A DALGETY BAY navy officer has been reunited with his family after spending eight months on a successful mission in the Gulf.

Lieutenant Ian McClelland (30), returned on board Royal Navy mine-hunter HMS Shoreham on Saturday to be met by his wife, Sadie Marie, and their one-year-old daughter, Penelope Mae. Also greeting Ian were mum and dad, Brian and Susan McClelland, who had travelled to the Clyde naval base from their home in Dalgety Bay.

“HMS Shoreham has been operating in the Gulf for three years but the current crew has been with the ship for around eight months,” explained Ian.

“We have been involved in several exercises with partners in the region and these have allowed the ship and crew to showcase their skills at conducting mine warfare in a warlike scenario. It provided the dive team and me personally with an opportunity to practice on exercise mines in theatre and hone our skills.” As operations officer on board the Sandown Class warship, Ian is responsible for running the operations room during mine-hunting operations. The former Inverkeithing High School pupil is also in charge of clearance diving and takes part in explosive ordnance disposal.

Joining the Royal Navy in 2006, Ian has served with HMS Bangor and was involved in maritime security on the Thames during the 2012 London Olympics. He has also acted as officer of the guard for both Remembrance Day parades at the Cenotaph and for the state opening of Parliament in 2009.

His Navy duties have taken Ian to the USA, Barbados, France, Greece, Tunisia, Malta, Italy, Germany, UAE, BAHRAIN, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt and he said, “After eight-months deployed and away from my wife and young daughter I now cannot wait for my post-deployment leave where I can enjoy spending time with my family, focusing on them. It is extremely hard being away and the quality time I now have at home is priceless.”