STAFF AT HM Naval Base Clyde bid a fond farewell to Commodore Sharon Malkin CBE ADC RN on Tuesday, 18th August, as she moved on from her role as Naval Base Commander Clyde.
Commodore Malkin, who has held the top job at the Naval Base since December 2022, was superseded by Commodore Andrew Bray ADC RN who has come from commanding the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).
Leaving the Faslane site, Commodore Malkin was waved off by military and civilian staff at the waterfront, as she boarded the Admiralty pilot boat “DMS Poppy” to sail from the Gareloch. Commodore Malkin was accompanied by her husband Stephen and her dog “Merlin”.
Serco tugboats fired their water cannons in a salute to the outgoing Commodore who will shortly retire from the Royal Navy. There was also a spectacular fly past by a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron.
Commodore Malkin joined the Royal Navy in 1994 after graduating from Cambridge University where she read engineering.
During her career as an Air Engineer, she served with 800, 820, and 899 Naval Air Squadrons onboard HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious, and HMS Ocean, as well as RFA Fort George.
Earlier this year, her personal contribution and leadership was recognised when she was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year’s Honours list.
The new Naval Base Commander Clyde is Commodore Andrew Bray ADC RN.
During his naval career Commodore Bray has specialised in logistics, working onboard HMS Scott, HMS Dragon and, most recently, HMS Prince of Wales.
He has worked in staff appointments across Defence and Government Departments including the Maritime Warfare Centre, the Ministry of Defence, and Cabinet Office.
Front-line service has included time with 847 Naval Air Squadron, tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, operations in Yemen, and crisis response tasks as a member of the Joint Force Headquarters.
Commodore Bray’s appointment as Naval Base Commander Clyde comes at an exciting time for the military site as it prepares for the future Dreadnought Class deterrent submarines and the SSN AUKUS attack boats.
“I join all the team across the Naval Base in passing my sincere gratitude and best wishes to Cdre Malkin for all she has done for Clyde,” said Commodore Bray.
“At a time when what we do could not be more important to our national security, I am delighted to be taking Command of the Naval Base today and I look forward to joining the team as we work together to deliver this country’s strategic deterrent”
Last year, the government approved a £270.7M investment package – an initial three-year funding that will be used to adapt and improve infrastructure at the Clyde base, preparing it to welcome the Dreadnought Class and the next generation of attack submarines.
Part of the improvements on-site include the construction of four new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) blocks. The first two, earmarked for submarine students undertaking training at Clyde’s new Royal Navy Submarine Training Centre (RNSTC).
