On 25 July 2025 the Company was invited to the Engineer’s Passing Out Parade at HMS Sultan, continuing the relationship between the Company and the Armed Forces, in particular engineering disciplines.
The Guest of Honour at the parade was Vice Admiral P Marshall CB CBE, who was supported by VIP guests from several Livery Companies, professional registration institutes, STEM Ambassadors, local community organisations and educational establishments. The Turners were represented by Col Lex Agathangelou, Court Assistant and Deputy Corps Colonel REME, for the day’s events.
The day included a tour of the facilities, the parade itself and lunch afterwards in the Officers’ mess with the Sailors and Officers from the parade. The VIP guests were asked to perform an inspection of the troops on parade after which a drill demonstration was witnessed. Awards were then presented by the Guest of Honour, which included a special 95th birthday award to the HMS Sultan Sentinel Steam Waggon, a traditional steam vehicle that has been restored and is maintained by the establishment.
The invitation to the parade was to support continued Service links with the Royal Navy School of Marine Engineering (RNSME) and the Royal Navy Air Engineering and Survival School (RNAESS) both located within HMS Sultan, in Gosport, Hants. The two schools, each commanded by a Captain RN, provide all training for Surface, Submarine and Air Engineering engineers and technicians including instruction in gas turbine, electrical and nuclear propulsion systems, hull systems, airfames, air engines and many other related skills. The schools also train personnel from the Navies of many foreign and Commonwealth countries.
HMS Sultan is now the Royal Navy’s largest training establishment. It is larger than any other by a third, in terms of both people and budgets. The mission is “To deliver the required number of competent and highly motivated technicians and engineers to the Armed Forces”. Today, the establishment covers an area of 180 acres with a perimeter of over 3 miles.
