OUR PATRONAndy Barnwell

CAPTAIN A D BARNWELL RD ADC

The Association has been very fortunate to call on 2 excellent Patrons to watch over us and look after our interests. The untimely death of Ray Colbourne in 2003 meant we had to look for a suitable replacement. The Committee recommended to the AGM that our old friend Andy Barnwell take up the reins and this was overwhelmingly rubber stamped. Andy was delighted to be asked and duly accepted. He takes over with immediate effect.

Captain Andy BARNWELL joined the Royal Navy at BRNC Dartmouth in January 1976 on a Medium Career Commission as a pilot. After flying training he initially flew the Wasp with 829 Squadron at RNAS Portland.  He joined HMS Hermione flight for his first operational appointment which included a 9-month deployment with the Fifth Frigate Squadron to the east and west coasts of Canada, USA, the Caribbean and South America followed by another 3 months in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

 From 829 Squadron his career took him via Flying Grading at Roborough and 781 Squadron (Sea Devon/Sea Heron) at RNAS Lee-on Solent to 750 Squadron (Jetstream) at RNAS Culdrose as a Staff Pilot and Staff Officer to the Commanding Officer.   Selected to become a Qualified Flying Instructor he joined RAF Leeming and Central Flying School in October 1981.  Post-course he was appointed to the RN Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Topcliffe, gaining an A2 Instructor category before returning to RAF Leeming and Refresher Flying Squadron for conversion to the Jet Provost Mk 5.

Andy joined 1 Squadron at No1 Flying Training School, RAF Linton-on-Ouse in March 1984.  Here he was the "Dark Blue" in a sea of Light Blue as the naval instructor for ab-initio Sea Harrier Pilots.  By now an experienced QFI and Pilot Navigation Instructor, he became a Flight Commander and Deputy Squadron Commander of 2 Squadron, a post he held until leaving the Royal Navy in 1988.


Andy joined British Airways after leaving the RN, flying the Boeing 757/767 based at London Heathrow on both short and medium haul routes.  He was selected as a Training First Officer after 3 years, a role he maintained as well as becoming a Type Rating and Instrument Rating Instructor on the Fleet until leaving to convert to Concorde.  From qualifying on the 6-month course he was selected for an instructional appointment on  Concorde.   After the untimely demise of Concorde Andy took a 20 month, unpaid, sabbatical from BA enabling him to concentrate on his business and Naval interests.  On returning to British Airways in June 2005 he converted to the Boeing 747-400 long range aircraft. He maintains his position  as  a senior Captain, within BA,  to the present date.

Joining the Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch immediately from the Royal Navy, Andy was initially with 750 Squadron flying the Jetstream at RNAS Culdrose.  Once the front seat posts were contractorised he was appointed to FONA HQ in the Fleet Support Aircraft Tasking Organization that operates civilian contracts for fixed and rotary wing aircraft in support of the Fleet both for trials and exercises.  This appointment gave him the opportunity to travel to numerous exercises and detachments in support of ships at home and abroad, working in a wider maritime environment.  He became Head of the Air Branch on promotion to Commander October 2000; on 5 March 2002 he was promoted to Captain and assumed the additional duties of Director Air (Reserves) on the management board of the RNR, the first to hold this new post.  He was awarded the Reserve Decoration in 2003, recognising 15 years of service with the RNR. On 1st February 2004 Andy was appointed Aides-de-camp to Her Majesty the Queen.  

In 2006 Andy finally retired from Royal Naval Service although he maintains close links and is totally committed to promoting the Royal Navy and in particular the Fleet Air Arm.

Married to Linda, they have two children, Nicholas (28) and Natalie (24) and live  near Market Harborough in the Midlands.  Andy’s many other interests include, estate management and the outdoor life.