A ROYAL Navy Lieutenant returned to South Cheshire College to give a careers talk to Public Services pupils.

Former South Cheshire College and Sandbach High School student, Annabel Broad, is the youngest commanding officer in the Royal Navy since The Second World War.

She gave an insight into her journey from South Cheshire College to the Royal Navy as part of the SCC Futures, Work Ready programme, which provides opportunities for all students to fulfil their career aspirations.

Students were able to ask questions about her time on HMS OCEAN as the Charge Books Officer, where her role was heavily linked to the aviation sphere Warfare.

Annabel left South Cheshire College having completed her A Levels, in 2011, winning Student of the Year, before joining the Royal Navy.

Annabel said: “It was good to return to SCC and speak to the students in Public Services. They asked a number of questions and so showed real interest.

“My aim was to encourage the students to consider the Navy as an option.

“Many people from this area won’t always consider the Navy, but Cheshire is a good geographical place because if they’re based in Portsmouth, Liverpool or Plymouth it’s quite central to travel home at the weekend.”

Public Services lecturer, Gill Ward, said: “It is with great thanks to Lieutenant Annabel Broad for coming back to college to speak to our students about career paths.

“It was incredibly motivational for the students, particularly at this point in their course where their journey is just beginning.”

Level 3 Public Services pupil, Dee Cooper from Crewe said: “The talk was very informative, and I now know things about the Navy I didn’t know before.

“I used to think the Navy was very male-dominated, but the talk gave me a chance to really consider the Royal Navy as an option.”