Former Hackney Downs pupil recognised by Royal Navy
Royal Navy sailor Alan Murrell who was born and grew up in Hackney, recieved a Long Service Good Conduct medal following 15 years in the service - Credit: Archant
A Royal Navy sailor from Hackney has been presented with a long service good conduct medal after serving for 15 years.
Alan Murrell, 38, joined the Royal Navy in 1997 following a spell as a Naval Reservist based at HMS President in London.
The former Hackney Downs school pupil is currently working as part of the Royal Navy’s secure communications team at the command headquarters in Portsmouth.
He said: “I am really proud of my 15 years in the Royal Navy – I have enjoyed so much of my career and have seen some amazing places across the world.”
He cites the former Type-42 destroyer HMS Liverpool on which he was based for eight years as his favourite ship, and a seven-month stint in the South Atlantic as his best deployment. This included port visits to Rio de Janeiro, the Falkland Islands and sailing through the Panama canal.
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Alan has also received the Operational Service Medal (2002), Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
A shareholder in Leyton Orient football club, Mr Murrell’s other interests include playing the trombone for the Royal Navy volunteer band, studying maps as a member of the Flag Institute and reading up on local and naval history.
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He said: “My highlight is probably the moment I had a photo taken of me in my Leyton Orient football shirt and that being included in the Orient ‘Match Day’ programme.”
