ONE of the Royal Navy's most decorated servicemen, Warrant Officer John Shaw, from Helston, was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours list.

John, 45, the training co-ordination officer at the RNAS Culdrose-based School of Flight Deck Operations, joined the service in 1975.

On learning of his MBE he said: "I am extremely proud and honoured to receive this award - not just for me but also for my family and colleagues who have supported me loyally throughout my 30 years in the Royal Navy."

On completion of initial training, John qualified as an aircraft handler at Culdrose before joining the ship's flight in the frigate HMS Amazon.

Since then, his varied career has seen him serving with a number of Culdrose-based front line squadrons, in the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Austin and with United Nations forces during hostile operations in Cambodia and the former Republic of Yugoslavia.

His work in Cambodia helping facilitate a general election and overseeing the rebuilding of an orphanage in Phnom-Penh earned him much praise for outstanding humanitarian work in exceptionally arduous conditions.

In the Balkans, he organised the supply of aviation fuel in support of UN and NATO forces aircraft operations and was the driving force behind delivering Royal Navy support to Croatian orphanages.

In his role as training co-ordination officer at Culdrose, John has introduced initiatives regulating the employment, promotion, and drafting of all aircraft handling ratings throughout the Royal Navy.

His knowledge and experience was pivotal in the planning of specialist firefighting training during last winter's firefighters' strike.

Recently, John was selected to lead the job evaluation process for the navy's aircraft handling branch, to ensure the highest possible standards of training are maintained to meet the future requirements of the Fleet.

Recommending John for the MBE, Lieutenant Commander Andy Thorburn, the then commanding officer of the school of flight deck operations, stated: "Warrant Officer Shaw is universally accepted as an outstanding Warrant Officer. He is one of the Royal Navy's most decorated servicemen, has achieved unparalleled levels of excellence during his long career and is an exceptional ambassador both for his service and his country."

Other decorations John has received over the years include the Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, two United Nations Medals, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Falklands Medal and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

John and his wife, Margaret, live in Helston with their children Sarah, Avril and Matthew.

Service commitments take up much of John's time, both in a professional context and as a navy boxing coach and joint service mountain leader. He also finds time to support the local community by organising fundraising activities for special needs children and is a long-standing governor of Nancealverne School.

l Lieutenant Commander David Noon, who until recently was stationed at RNAS Culdrose, did not realise he had received an MBE in the New Year's Honours list until he spotted his name in the newspaper.

Former Helston School student David, 42, who believes his official letter of notification was lost in the Christmas post, said he had made a few phone calls to check there had not been a printing error before celebrating his award.

Now living in Romsey and working on a special project at Boscombe Down for the Ministry of Defence, David was honoured for his work during last winter's firefighters' strike.

It was his job to make sure all naval personnel being trained in firefighting at RNAS Culdrose were properly equipped.

"I had to make sure they had all the proper helmets and firefighting suits and everything else they needed, from a Green Goddess right down to a torch battery," said David.

Originally from Cornwall, David, who has a home in Falmouth, has been in the Royal Navy for 20 years and saw service in the first Gulf War and in Bosnia.

He has served aboard HMS Illustrious and HMS London, the survey ships Hecate and Hecla and at the shore station HMS Nelson.

He is married to Ana, a swimming instructor, and has two stepdaughters, Lesley and Romana.

The MBE crowned a successful year for David, coming just a few months after his promotion to Lieutenant Commander.