A ROYAL Navy Commander who lives in Tavistock has been awarded an OBE in the New Year?s Honours list. Commander Phillip Titterton, 41, who has just left his post as commanding officer of the Trafalgar Class submarine HMS Tireless, said he was shocked when he received the news. ?I didn?t expect it at all. It has just sunk in now and I?m honoured and very pleased. My wife, Sara, is very proud of me. ?Obviously I haven?t achieved this recognition on my own. It is down to team work and I am completely humbled and proud of the ship?s company I leave behind in HMS Tireless as I move to my new posting in the new year to the Ministry of Defence in London.? Commander Titterton was awarded the OBE in recognition of his remarkable performance in his role as submarine commander. His citation states that he leads from the front, demonstrating the very best qualities of the Royal Navy. His time in command was marked by operations in a variety of challenging and dangerous environments including the first Royal Navy deployment under the ice in nearly a decade. The citation ends by noting that his consummate professionalism and inspirational leadership has been outstanding and in the finest tradition of the Service. Commander Titterton was born in Tenby and joined the Royal Navy in 1981. He lives in Tavistock with his wife Sara, and children Lydia, Bertie and Maisy. Michael Charleston, secretary of the South West Rivers Association since 1996, has been awarded the OBE for his services to salmon and wildlife conservation. Mr Charleston, 75, lives at Buckland Monachorum with his wife, Joan. He said he was amazed to have been given the honour. ?It was a big surprise ? this letter came out of the blue from the prime minister?s office,? said Mr Charleston, a retired journalist who also works for the North Atlantic Salmon Fund. An angler all his life, Mr Charleston has for many years been involved with both organisations which have been working hard to arrest the decline in population of wild salmon. He said: ?When I was invited to become SWRA secretary the Government, MAAF and the Environment Agency seemed totally indiference to the salmon?s problems, despite the urgency. I took the job because I wanted to wake these officials up and the SWRA seemed the way I could do it. ?The population has been in a terrible state and it seemed a natural thing to take on. I was anxious that my grandchildren should have the chance to see salmon leap in a weir, like they used to 50 years ago.? Mr Charleston said happily, it now appeared wild salmon stocks were beginning to look healthier, thanks to the hard work of groups like the North Atlantic Salmon Fund and the SWRA. Another West Devon resident to receive awards in the New Year list was Robert Williams, of Horrabridge. Mr Williams, 63, received the MBE for his services to the National Probation Service in Devon and Cornwall. After working in various roles within the service since 1980, Mr Williams has been a volunteer coordinator for the past 10 years. ?I recruit and train members of the public who want to do volunteer work, working with offenders. As well as recruiting and training people, I allocate work and provide support. I think I?ve been recognised for the work of the volunteer sector,? he said.
