Blyth sailor follows in Naval hero's footsteps

Able Seaman Hollie Sharples joined the Navy in October last year and completed her initial training at HMS Raleigh, Cornwall.

The 18-year-old is now training to be a Weapon Engineer at HMS Collingwood the Fareham Navy training establishment named after the Admiral from nearby Tynemouth.

Hollie said: “I was aware before I joined the Navy that Admiral Lord Collingwood was from my local area and actually visited his monument in Tynemouth before joining.

"This inspired me that someone from my local area could achieve great things.”

She added: “I started my Naval Career in October 2020. Within the space of ten weeks, 60 of us bonded through the many rigorous PT sessions and hours’ worth of drill, to ultimately pass out as sailors.

"Discipline, teamwork and weeks of strict hard work built up the foundations of our Raleigh experience.

"Just recently I started phase 2 training, in which I moved to Portsmouth to start HMS Collingwood to begin my WE training.”

Hollie was in the Air Cadets before she joined the Navy, part of Bedlington Air Cadets she rose to the rank of Sergeant. An ex-pupil of Bede Academy, Hollie’s parents Debbie and Darren, still live in Blyth.

HMS Collingwood maintains close ties with Northumberland, with its home town being Morpeth.