Jim Perks – Seven clicks to freedom didn’t quite work out that way
‘Do I want now to go and be Sea Training having done what I considered the pinnacle of my career, what I wanted to do or is this another moment?’ I go, ‘Umm’ so I said, “Yep, ok it’s a moment” and “more than a moment, I’m going to go” so I told everyone.
Those people that listened and read this who know me will go, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course you did” but this genuinely happened. I was going, you know, I was making waves to go, I was about to basically 7 clicks to freedom on the computer to say I’m going.
Simon: Oh is that how many … going through an online form is it?
It is yeah, 7 clicks to freedom, and I’m told the 1st Sea Lord he was down occasionally, he said, “You’re going” I said, “Yeah, I’m definitely going” and it was a few weeks later they’d just changed how the … they’d put a new Admiral in up in Scotland who was Admiral Weale, John Weale again who had become ACNS(SM), so Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Submarines, to have a much broader view and responsibility of the whole Submarine Service.
Great, so after the demise of the FOSM, Flag Officer Submarines, we hadn’t had that. We’ve had RASM which is Rear Admiral Submarines which is almost a figurehead, no real levers to pull, no monetary ability to help and no other real responsibilities. ACNS(SM), Admiral Weale, out of Faslane did and he was in the right place at the right time.
1st Sea Lord at the time just happened to be in Northwood again said, “I hear you’re going outside”
I said, “Yes.”
He said, “You’re not.”
I said, “I am Sir.“
He said, “You’re not, I’ve got the perfect job for you.”
I said, “You haven’t, I know all the jobs and this is what I want.”
He said, “Well, ok.”
I said, “Sir if you have, you need to tell me what it is because I’m going, I’m literally this week going.”
He went, “Ok, I want you to be the Commodore in Faslane.”
“But I’ve only just … I’m 18 months in as a Captain.”
“Yep, do you want it or not?”
“Umm, ok, I’ll have that, yeah.” That changed my mind pretty quick.
