Trevor gets top job in Navy
Vice-Admiral Trevor Soar, originally from Belper, has served his country for more than 30 years, captaining ships and submarines around the world.
Now he has been promoted to the position of Commander in Chief, second only to Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who has the Navy's top job – the First Sea Lord.
This means that Vice-Admiral Soar is now responsible for every vessel in the Navy and will be directly answerable to the Prime Minister.
He said: "It is an immense honour to be given this role.
"I have commanded a number of ships and submarines since I joined the force in 1975 and it has been a complete pleasure.
"But the time eventually comes when sadly you have to stop commanding ships.
"So to be put in control of the entire fleet is, I believe, the best job in the Navy."
Vice-Admiral Soar's family home is now in Burton.
His role will see him work across the globe as well as in the armed forces base in Northwood, where the UK's military strategy is run.
The 51-year-old, who lived in Belper, Long Eaton and Little Eaton before he joined the Navy, said that he tried to return to the East Midlands as often as he could.
He said: "Both myself and my wife, Anne, are from the East Midlands and have family and friends here.
"Our two sons, Gareth and David, were both educated at Denstone College and we see ourselves very much as East Midlands people.
"But unfortunately, because of my new role, it is going to be difficult to commute to work from Burton."
Throughout his 33 years in the Navy, Vice-Admiral Soar has commanded the submarine HMS Ocelot.
He also commanded the submarine HMS Talent on several patrols during the Cold War before being awarded the OBE for services to the armed forces in 1994.
In 1997, he commanded the ship HMS Chatham, which patrolled the seas in the Middle East.
Vice-Admiral Soar said: "The pleasure of the Navy to me has been the variety of different roles I have had the fortune of being able to do and the quality of the people I have worked with.
"All across the board, the dedication and bravery of so many of the men I have commanded has been nothing short of magnificent."
Vice-Admiral Soar's brother, Steve Soar, a self-employed building contractor who lives in Nottingham, said all the family knew he had a love of the sea from a young age.
The 48-year-old said: "He seems to have a love of the Navy and love for the sea and ships."
Vice-Admiral Soar's half-brother, Richard Soar, said the promotion was the least he deserved for his hard work.
Mr Soar, 31, a commercial manager, from Derby, said: "Trevor has worked really hard throughout his career in the Navy and we are all very proud of what he has achieved."
at sea: Vice Admiral Trevor Soar on HMS Talent and, right, HMS Chatham, which was also under his command
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