Interviews - Interviews with the Serving

Petty Officer Catering Services Brian McGraw is 37 and joined the Royal Navy in 1990. He is currently a Catering Instructor at the Defence Maritime Logistics School at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

Why did you decide to join the Royal Navy?

I went along with my cousin to the careers office as he didn’t want to go alone. I was a chef in a hotel and I thought, “Why not join?” The Navy sounded great. Initially, I didn’t get accepted and had to re-apply after a year. I then joined a ship, HMS Glasgow, and one of my first jobs was to stay outside all night and strip the paint off the bridge roof. It was freezing cold and certainly not what I’d expected, being a chef! Life onboard got better, I completed a lot of my on-the-job training and we deployed to the Gulf for six months. After a further two drafts to shore establishments, I was sent out to the Gulf again, this time for nine months, and saw Japan, Singapore and Malaysia on the way. During my time in the Navy, I’ve served on different sized ships, been on promotion courses, taken exams, passed fitness tests, been promoted and was part of the force supplying emergency cover during the fireman’s strike.

What are the best and worst aspects of being in the Navy?

The best is being an i

 mportant part of a busy team and having a rewarding job. To be a part of the defence of our country, in any small way, gives me amazing satisfaction. The worst is being away from your loved ones for long periods.

What do your parents and friends think of your career?

I know my parents and friends are very proud of me and what I do. I love it when I’m introduced to someone new, because everyone wants to know what you do and what it’s like - everyone loves a sailor!

What is the most challenging thing you have ever done in the Navy?

As the Catering Manager there is a lot to organise when getting a ship ready for a long deployment. There are hundreds of different items to source, from stock cubes to joints of meat, over £50,000 worth of stock, so you need to get it right. Once the ship leaves the wall, there’s no going back if you have forgotten something!

As a gay man in the Navy, do you feel you have more to prove?

I have never felt that being gay has been an issue within my job and career and I’ve never encountered any homophobia – I’ve been called a few names in the past, but who hasn’t?

What has been your proudest moment with the Navy?

I have two. One was being onboard HMS Glasgow when she was the Royal Yacht escort and meeting the Queen and Prince Philip. The other was last year, when I marched in London Pride for the first time. It was out of this world, and I’ll definitely be back this year. The response we got from the crowd was very loud. I just couldn’t stop smiling. It was great to know that people recognise your sacrifice and it’s somewhat overwhelming.