A serving Royal Navy sailor living in Shotley has been awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).
Shaun Sams was presented with the medal at a ceremony aboard HMS Victory, in Portsmouth today by the Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE.
Chief Petty Officer Sams, whose wife Tracy and youngest son Kieren accompanied him to the medal presentation, has served in the navy for 32 years and is due to retire in April next year
Shaun was part of the HMS Illustrious crew, which gave aid to the Philippines after the country was savaged by Typhoon Hayian in 2014, and was on HMS Ark Royal during the second Gulf War in 2003
The 48 year old is an engineer in the Fleet Air Arm, he is currently a Divisional Officer at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hants and has served on a number of ships including, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious.
Shaun was commended by the navy after he generated a bespoke instructor log, for the Train the Trainer course, while senior air engineering instructor at HMS Sultan.
The Sams have two sons, Connor is a talented member of the Shotley Drama Group and Kieren is a Leading Cadet in the Royal Navy Sea Cadet Force based in Ipswich, and is looking to follow his father into the Senior Service.
The MSM is a silver medal first awarded to non-commissioned Army officers in 1845 and adopted by the navy in 1919.