Hello.

My name is Daniel Roberts and I am 21 years old. I come from a small town called Welshpool just outside Shrewsbury. I first became interested in the Navy when I walked into the Armed Forces career office in Shrewsbury town centre, and was told about the exciting life that a member of the Royal Navy can expect to lead. I then joined the Navy in October 2005 leaving behind my previous job, which was working for my family business as a bricklayer.

After completing my basic training and specialised training as a mine warfare rating I joined HMS Ledbury in June 2006. Since serving onboard I have been involved in fishery protection which Ledbury has been tasked in and therefore have visited many cities around which I would otherwise not have seen.

I have also completed two periods of Operational Sea Training. This tests the Ship’s ability to mine hunt effectively under wartime conditions and I am happy to say the Ship’s Company passed with flying colours both times.

I have also had the good fortune to visit the town of Ledbury on two occasions, last year for the Freedom of the Town parade and this year to play football against the Ledbury Swifts. On both occasions my shipmates and I have been very warmly welcomed and have had a very good time. I look forward to coming back next time to try and regain the ‘Ledbury Challenge Cup’ trophy from the Swifts!

HMS Ledbury is now deployed in the Mediterranean with a NATO force, working with other European Navies such as the German, French, and Estonians. I myself am involved in gunnery exercises, where my role is to aim and fire the Ship’s main 30mm cannon against both sea and air targets. Recently we had the chance to shoot at an aircraft-towed target to test our shooting skills.

My day-to-day work is to maintain the various fire fighting and damage control equipment we have onboard. I take this role very seriously because we have not got the luxury of dialling emergency services at sea if a fire occurs, which is why every member of the Ship’s Company is highly trained in fire-fighting techniques.

Also as a mine warfare rating when the Ship is at mine-hunting stations, my job is to search the seabed and water column using the Ship’s sonar to find and identify mines. We can then confirm and destroy mines using our Remote Control Mine Disposal Vehicles (little yellow submarines), which drop a bomb next to the mine and then recover to Ledbury before the charge is detonated.

The Ship is due back in Portsmouth in time for Christmas. I will then start to prepare for further tasking around the UK and deployment abroad in the next couple of years. In the meantime I look forward to travelling up to Ledbury again and seeing everyone there.