Former Maltby pupil keeping 500 Royal Marines ship-shape on Far East expedition

That’s the task before Royal Navy physical training instructor James Buttle, who is helping to ensure sailors and Royal Marines stay ship-shape during an expedition to the Far East.

The former Maltby Comprehensive pupil (38), who joined the Navy 20 years ago as a marine engineer, is serving aboard HMS Albion.

The 23,000-tonne amphibious assault ship left Plymouth at the beginning of February tasked with strengthening the UK’s ties throughout the Asia-Pacific region.                

As the ship’s physical training instructor, James is responsible for keeping more than 500 sailors and Royal Marines fit while they are at sea.

He also arranges adventurous training expeditions and sporting fixtures against local teams whenever the ship visits a foreign port.

James, who has twin boys, said the role was the realisation of a boyhood dream.

He said: “I lived and breathed sports when I was growing up, and competed at county level in both football and athletics, and I still support Rotherham United. Fitness is an important part of the ship’s daily routine, especially when we’re at sea for long periods.

“It’s as much about mental wellbeing as it is physical. It has a big role to play in lifting morale.

“There’s a lot of responsibility in trying to serve the differing needs of so many people. 

“The best part of the job is knowing I’m helping them manage the challenges of separation and uncertainty, but also to take advantage of all the opportunities that are available.”

James said a personal highlight for him was an adventurous training expedition to the Lofoten Islands in Norway a few years ago.

He said: “It’s known as the Land of the Midnight Sun and is breathtakingly beautiful and the people were enormously welcoming.

“Being in the Navy has certainly given me some amazing opportunities that I simply wouldn’t have had in any other walk of life.”

When he’s not supervising circuits on the flight deck, James can be found on HMS Albion’s bridge, where he is responsible for steering the ship whenever it enters or leaves harbour. 

Recently, HMS Albion has undertaken a programme of diplomatic visits, including Singapore, Indonesia and Japan.

The Marines also ventured into the jungles of Brunei to hone their warm weather skills. 

He said: “My great uncle was working in Singapore at the beginning of the Second World War, and sadly died there in a prisoner of war camp.

“Later, my grandfather was serving on the destroyer HMS Constance during the Korean War, when it was damaged by enemy action and came to Japan for repairs, so it’s special for me to be back in this region with the Royal Navy all these years later.

“Even though I’ve been in the Navy for 20 years, I’d never been to the Far East before, so this deployment was an opportunity I grabbed with both hands.

“I have a big map of the world on a wall at home which my sons are using to track the ship while I’m away.”