Culdrose Navy man behind 35,000 plastic face masks honoured

Warrant Officer Scott ‘Barney’ Barnett is to be presented with a commendation by the head of the navy, the First Sea Lord, for his part in producing more than 35,500 face masks in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 46-year-old, who lives in Mullion, was inspired to start producing visors in the spring of 2020.

The Merlin helicopter air engineering officer helped set up a group of fellow 3D-printing enthusiasts in Cornwall to begin producing visors at home. He is also part of Culdrose’s Innovation Hub, which quickly turned its 3D-printers to the same purpose and enlisted volunteers from across the station to produce thousands of masks which were handed out widely across Cornwall.

Speaking of his praise last year, First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin said: “I was delighted to hear about what Warrant Officer Barnett has achieved. Collaboration and teamwork are at the heart of the Royal Navy ethos, and to have set up a group in his spare time that has delivered assistance to the local community on this scale is superb.”

Warrant Officer Scott ‘Barney’ Barnett at the innovation centre at RNAS Culdrose Photo: Royal Navy/LPhot

Warrant Officer Scott ‘Barney’ Barnett

Warrant Officer Barnett said this week: “It’s nice to get that recognition. It was something I really enjoyed doing. I remember thinking at the start that if I could make 100 masks, that would be amazing.”

Meanwhile, Warrant Officer Robert ‘Bob’ Holborn, aged 57 and from near Redruth, is to be handed a meritorious service medal for his distinguished service of 40 years.

He left what was then known as Redruth Comprehensive School at the age of 17 to join the Royal Navy as a naval airman aircraft handler, part of the team who specialise in firefighting and manoeuvring aircraft on ships’ flight decks.

He is now the most senior warrant officer of the Aircraft Handlers’ Branch and works at Culdrose’s Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations, helping train men and women as new naval airmen.

His long service has seen him serve in the ships’ company with the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Invincible, as well as the warship HMS Ocean, and lately with the new carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Warrant Officer Robert ‘Bob’ Holborn Photo: Royal Navy/LPhot

Warrant Officer Robert ‘Bob’ Holborn

In between deployments and periods at the training school, Warrant Officer Holborn has served as an instructor with new recruits at the Cornish training base HMS Raleigh and back at the fire station at Culdrose’s airfield.

He said: “I’ve spent a lot of my career away from home. Perhaps the most interesting was on Queen Elizabeth, bringing a new ship out of build.

“As aircraft handlers, we always work as part of a team, either as a watch or a group, and there’s a lot of camaraderie that comes with that. We push that ethos of discipline and professionalism because you want to be the best.”

He said one of the most poignant parts of the job was seeing how former recruits he had mentored during his time as a divisional officer at HMS Raleigh have now progressed in their careers.

Many have since thanked him for his words of encouragement during their demanding training.

“That’s what makes this job really important to me, knowing that you’ve helped people who might otherwise have left the service,” he added.

“I leave the service myself in June after 40 years and I’ve had a brilliant time. It’s been great.”