Upton teenager is top recruit in Royal Navy training

Nov 5 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

A TEENAGER from Upton was top recruit as the latest class of Royal Navy trainees completed their nine weeks’ initial training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

Trainee engineering technician Richard Percival, 17, joined the Royal Navy in July and has now completed a period of intensive training to give him the basic skills he will rely upon throughout his service career.

He was presented with the Owen Cup at the passing out parade as the recruit who achieved the best overall marks during training.

The former pupil of Woodchurch High School pupil previously worked at Sainsbury’s in Upton.

Now ready for the next stage of his training, Richard has transferred to HMS Collingwood in Hampshire where he will learn how to maintain the Royal Navy’s electronic weapons and defensive systems.