A NAVY diver is hoping to be submerged in nostalgia as he returns to his former classrooms to help celebrate an academy’s tenth anniversary.
Mine clearance diver and former King’s Academy student Ben Wood will join hundreds of former students and teachers as they reunite to mark ten years of the Coulby Newham school on April 26.
Ben, who was one of the first students to attend the newly opened The King’s Academy when it opened its doors in 2003, is hoping the anniversary celebration will give him a chance to meet up with old friends and take a look at how the school has grown.
“Ten years have gone by so quickly, it really doesn’t seem possible,” said Ben, 23, who has recently bought his first house in Thornaby.
“When I come home on leave I sometimes drive past the academy and it looks so big now compared to when I went there.
“I’m hoping that lots of my former classmates and old friends turn up, especially from my year group. It will be great to catch up with everyone and see what they have gone on to become.”
Ben, who attended The King’s Academy from 2003 to 2007, joined the Royal Navy after finishing his A levels and is now working at HMNB Clyde within the Northern Diving Group.
He has already undergone two deployments in the Gulf, protecting the UK’s oil interests and taking part in training exercises for underwater bomb disposal.
“There are a lot of historic mines still left on the sea bed from World War II which occasionally get pulled up and then the call comes in for the mine clearance divers to help dispose of them,” explained Ben.
“We can dive to depths of about 60m, in zero visibility, so a lot of our work is done by touch.
“My main role is as a diver but working on board a ship means that you also get called on for a number of roles including fighting fires, protecting other ships, taking on general maintenance, safeguarding medical supplies and even cooking in the galley – it’s a very challenging job but a very rewarding one too.”
Of the reunion, Ben said: “I think it’s great that The King’s is having a reunion. The teachers there really looked after me, in particular Mr Stewart, who got me into rugby, and Miss Patterson, my English teacher, who was really cool.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing them all again.”
Former students and staff of The King’s Academy can register their place at the reunion by visiting www.thekingsacademyreunion.org.uk