Ashley joins diving elite

NEW Navy diver Ashley Lishman and his parents, Joanne and Paul.

A Royal Navy diver from Oldham took part in an explosive display to celebrate the end of his specialist training in Portsmouth.

At their graduation ceremony, Able Seaman Diver Ashley Lishman (21) and other newly-qualified colleagues put on a real-life display for their visiting families and friends.

The audience, including his parents Joanne and Paul Lishman, watched them discover a mock unexploded device in the diving lake which they subsequently recovered and destroyed, to the delight of the crowd.

Ashley completed six months’ specialist training at the Defence Diving School in Portsmouth after joining up in 2009.

He is one of the few to qualify as a Navy diver, according to the Diving School Commander, Tom Russell.

“The divers’ training course is the most physically and mentally demanding course in the Royal Navy,” he said.

“Each year approximately 500 young people join the service wanting to be divers. From that, 100 are selected as suitable, from that 60 will join and from that 30 will get through.

“On Ashley’s course, 12 started but only five successfully completed it, this is quite an achievement.”

Ashley, who also enjoys running, working out in the gym and socialising, said: “I can’t really believe it, and I’m very happy my friends and family are here. The diving branch is the best in the Navy, it has been difficult but worth it in the long run.”

Ashley will now join one of the Mine Counter Measures Squadrons.

Navy divers are currently serving in Afghanistan supporting the Army.

They search and clear insurgent-laid improvised explosive devices and conventional munitions and accompany regular foot patrols.

They also train the Afghan National Army in explosive search and disposal skills.