A FORMER Leftwich pupil has marched out on parade at HMS Raleigh to celebrate her transformation from civilian to Royal Navy sailor.

Trainee warfare specialist Natalie Tinker, 21, arrived at the Royal Navy training base in Cornwall in October for a 10-week course culminating in the passing-out parade attended by families and friends.

Natalie, a former pupil of The County High School Leftwich, was a holiday and customer service advisor before embarking on her Naval career. She said: “I’ve always wanted to join the Royal Navy since hearing about it in high school at the age of 14.

" I’ve always wanted to travel the world gaining new experiences. "Training has been an eye opener into what the Royal Navy has to offer as a career. "I have achieved and experienced a lot more than I imagined. "It has been challenging and rewarding and I wouldn’t change any of it. "I look forward to the future and where my naval career will take me alongside the people I have achieved this with.”

With the first phase of her training complete Natalie is heading off to HMS Collingwood in Hampshire for her professional course. There, during the three-month course, she will learn how to set-up and operate the systems that give the ship information about what is on the surface and in the air. Natalie will also learn how to detect and report radar jamming and learn about data links and voice radio circuits to pass on vital information to the ship's command team and others.

For more information about careers with the Royal Navy visit royalnavy.mod.uk or call the recruitment line on 03456 005302.