A FATHER has seen his son join the Royal Navy at the training establishment where he has been an instructor for the past three years.

Chief Petty Officer Ian Cherry, 43, has been based at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint.

In the last two weeks of Ian’s spell at the base, his 19-year-old son Ben arrived for a 10-week initial training course as a warfare specialist.

Ian has been in the navy since 1995 and is now starting a new assignment at Devonport Naval Base.

He said he had not been directly involved in the training of Ben at the base but was looking forward to the proud day when his son passes out.

Ben said: ‘When I was growing up, seeing what Dad was doing in his career inspired me to want to join.’