Members of a 814 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Culdrose have presented a framed picture to a veteran to honour his decades of loyal service.

The squadron, based at Helston's naval base, commissioned the gift for John ‘Joe’ Cocker, aged 87, who joined the navy in the 1950s and served with the same unit. Mr Cocker rose to become a chief petty officer writer before retiring from the navy.

Accepting the picture on his behalf was his son Alan who is linked to the squadron through his role as a technical team leader with aerospace company Leonardo in Yeovil, where the helicopters used by the navy are built and supported.

Falmouth Packet: John Cocker pictured with 814 Squadron members far left with TankardJohn Cocker pictured with 814 Squadron members far left with Tankard (Image: Supplied)

Alan was only aware of their mutual ties to the squadron when his father was looking through an old photo album last year.

He said: “Dad dug out naval albums we had never seen before, bringing back memories. I saw an image of members of 814 Squadron and told him that it was the same Merlin squadron that I was involved in.

“I joined Leonardo in 1993 as a design engineer for the Merlin Mk1 and was chief project officer for the Merlin Mk2 conversion programme, so I have long standing ties with RNAS Culdrose.

“My father was seconded to them as a squadron ‘scribe’ in the early 1960s when they were flying the Wessex helicopters. He produced a newsletter called the Tiger Rag, as 814 Squadron are known as the Flying Tigers due to their distinctive badge.”

Falmouth Packet: Wessex helicopters of 814 NASWessex helicopters of 814 NAS (Image: Supplied)

The Tiger Rag was used to boost morale and maintain a sense of fun within the squadron as they made their way around the world on special missions.

Lieutenant Commander Mark Barber of 814 Naval Air Squadron said: “The Tiger Rag has a wonderful resonance and historical value for our squadron and it has been fantastic to see some of John’s photos of his service, which included major activities such as a joint exercise with the Australian Navy.

“We felt we wanted to thank John for his dedicated service and we are now collaborating with him to find a way to preserve his writing and photography which forms such an important part of our heritage.”

Although John was not able to make the journey to RNAS Culdrose to accept his gift, he was able to attend virtually while his son represented him at a presentation.

Reflecting on his time in the navy, John said: “When you are part of the Royal Navy you are part of a team and when you work on the squadron there is so much camaraderie, professionalism and friendship. If there is a rush on, you work on it together until it flies.”

Falmouth Packet: The Tiger Rag was used to boost morale and maintain a sense of fun within the squadron The Tiger Rag was used to boost morale and maintain a sense of fun within the squadron (Image: Supplied)

John’s ethos is one shared by both of his sons Alan and Dave, who each carried out apprenticeships with the Royal Naval Fleetlands Yard at Gosport.

Alan added: “It has been a great honour for me to accept this gift to my father and I know it is one that he will treasure. We feel a great sense of loyalty and gratitude to the Royal Navy, as it has provided such a strong foundation for both of our lives. I’m so grateful that we came across those photos, as without them there is a whole world of my father’s experiences that I would have been unaware of.”

The men and women of 814 Naval Air Squadron operate the Merlin Mk2 helicopters to conduct frontline anti-submarine warfare duties.