New regional commander for the Isle of Man and northern England Commodore Gary Doyle has paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Douglas Councillor Sara Hackman.

Commodore Doyle has taken over from Commodore Dickie Baum who was in the role for five years and will be based in Liverpool at the naval regional headquarters.

Commodore Doyle’s career to date includes operational service in nine Royal Navy warships. Of these, he was commanding officer of two: HMS Brockleby, the mine countermeasures vessel, and air defence destroyer HMS Southampton, during Operation Oracle which was the UK’s response to the 9/11 attacks.

Maintaining links with the Isle of Man and the north of England and developing an understanding of the Royal Navy within the region will be the principal objectives for Commodore Doyle in his new role.

He said: ‘It is a real privilege to return to my home city and to be tasked with reinforcing the spirit of the Royal Navy throughout the North of England and the Isle of Man.’

Picture- Commodore Gary Doyle with Mayor of Douglas Councillor Sara Hackman and the mayoress, Councillor Carol Malarkey