Julian Stockwin was sent to sea-training school at the age of fourteen, then he joined the Royal Navy at fifteen. He transferred to the Royal Australian Navy when his family emigrated and saw service in the Far East, the Antarctic and the South Seas.In Vietnam he served on a carrier task force. Later commissioned into the Royal Naval Reserve. He was awarded the MBE and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He now lives in Devon with his wife Kathy.