Robert sails into future after 35-year sea career

A DECORATED sailor brought his illustrious career to a fitting conclusion when he met the Prime Minister during his last deployment.

Robert McKillop, from Comiston, is nearing the end of a 35-year career in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).

He still carries shrapnel in his leg after a grenade attack in Aden, where he was decorated for his service with the Royal Air Force in 1965.

He has also had to abandon ship twice in his career, on both occasions in the South Atlantic. The first was on the ship Good Hope Castle in 1973 when it caught fire between Ascension Island and St Helena, and he and his shipmates were only saved when a tanker captain took a diversion to do some sightseeing en route to Brazil.

The second occasion came during the Falklands whilst serving on RFA Sir Lancelot, when the entire crew had to abandon ship due to an unexploded bomb on board.

He went on to receive further medals for his service in the Falklands, as well as Iraq in 1991, the former Yugoslavia in 1993 and Sierra Leone in 2000.

During the first gulf war, Mr McKillop served on the Sir Bedivere, a stores delivery unit operating in treacherous mined waters.

He also served on the Sir Percivale supporting NATO and UN forces in 1993 and the Sir Tristram, as part of the amphibious task force in Sierra Leone.

Mr McKillop initially joined the RFA as an assistant purser, working as a hotel services manager and a cashier, progressing to his present rank of chief officer, logistics and supply, in 2002 on board RFA Fort George, the 34,000-tonne Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessel currently taking part in Exercise Auriga off the coast of the United States.

The Royal Navy's flagship, HMS Ark Royal, briefly sailed alongside Mr McKillop's ship in Canada for an official engagement, and Prime Minister David Cameron took the opportunity to pay the hard-working officers and crew a brief visit.

As he prepared for a retired life ashore, Mr McKillop, who is married to Carol and has two grown-up children Fiona and Peter, was in reflective mood.

He said: "Weighing it up, has it been a wasted life all those long separations from my family? No, I have regrets, most people have, but my family and I have made the most of the opportunities presented and I have enjoyed the vast majority of my life at sea and tolerated the rest.

"The RFA has been a steady employer and given me a good career over the course of which I have met numerous interesting people and made many good friends.

"The only places I haven't visited are Japan, New Zealand and the west coast of South America."

Mr McKillop is president of a walking club and a dining club in Edinburgh and also acts as a volunteer tourist guide in the Capital.