A ROYAL Navy Officer from Tavistock has been awarded a prize as the top student on a training course preparing him to operate beneath the waves.

Lieutenant Andy Perks was presented with the Lord Fieldhouse Submarine Officers' Life Membership award in recognition of his efforts during training at the Royal Navy Submarine School at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.  The four-month course prepared the 32-year-old for his current role as the deputy weapons engineering officer on board the submarine HMS Trenchant. 

Lt Perks is responsible for maintaining availability and advising the command on all weapon and sonar systems.   His duties also include acting as a watch-keeper in the control room of the submarine. 

Lt Perks said:  'I originally joined the Royal Navy as a warfare officer and then transferred to become a weapons engineer. I'm really pleased to have come top of the class because having transferred to this specialisation, I feel I've justified the Navy's faith in allowing me to change careers.  All in all, I'm enjoying serving in my new area of expertise and the challenges the submarine service offers.'

Following Lt Perks' graduation from Liverpool University, he travelled around Australia and then Asia before joining the Royal Navy in 2003.  He won a number of prizes during his initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth.  

He has previously served on HMS Ocean and HMS Bulwark, and the destroyer HMS Southampton.