Jim Perks claimed he was always “in the right place at the right time”, but it takes a great deal of dedication, hard work and something quite special to move up through the ranks as he did.

Starting out as a Writer in the Royal Navy at the age of 17, it was due to overhearing stories from Submariners at Dartmouth – where he was training to become a pilot – that turned Jim towards the Submarine Service.

Studying hard and working diligently, Jim worked his way up through the ranks to the role of Commander, receiving an OBE in 2008 for his time commanding HMS Sceptre, later going on to become Teacher and running the brutal ‘Perisher’ course.

36 years later after joining the Navy, he was made Head of the Submarine Fighting Arm, promoted to Commodore of the Submarine Service in 2020.

Today Jim works with BAE in Barrow. He is heavily involved with the Submarine Family Initiative, is the President of the RNRM Angling Association, President of the Scottish Branch of the Submariners Association and a Trustee of the Submarine Memorial Appeal.

We spent a fascinating three hours talking to Jim, gaining a truly valuable insight into the running of the Submarine Service, in particular the Perisher course.