SUBMARINES-- THE CHALLENGES OF A LIFE UNDER THE SEA

At our meeting of 17 February, we were joined by a number of Rotarians from other Clubs and guests to hear the talk by Admiral Sir Trevor Soar on submarines and the challenges of a life under the sea.

Trevor, who was born in Belper and educated at Loughborough Grammar School, began by outlining his career in the Royal Navy, which he joined in 1975. The first submarine he was in command of was the diesel powered HMS Ocelot, now a museum piece at Chatham Dockyard, and the second was the nuclear powered HMS Talent. He then had command of two surface ships, the frigate HMS Chatham and the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible. After serving in various senior positions he was promoted to Admiral and appointed RN Commander in Chief and NATO Maritime Commander. 

Trevor outlined the history of the submarine, from 350 BC, when a vessel made of iron rings and glass was reputedly manned by Alexander the Great, to 1899, when the first modern submarine was developed by the schoolmaster John Phillip Holland. Despite this latter vessel being described by one critic as