Heber Ackland (NH, 1987)

I attended the Junior School and College (Newick House) between 1979-87 and have two great enduring friendships and plenty of good memories. These include hours spent in vehement debate with close friends, playing hockey and cricket (which I still do), and acquiring a lifelong love of history, which I subsequently studied at Keble College, Oxford, and have used extensively in my career. I now live with my family in Bath and work for the University of Lincoln providing higher education opportunities for Royal Navy personnel.

My time at Cheltenham and Keble was great preparation for my career in the Royal Navy, into which I was commissioned in 1991, retiring in 2021. Over the course of 30 enjoyable and hugely varied years I served in seven different warships, visited some 60-70 ports around the world, undertook 17 different
jobs and spent almost five years in training.

My first job was as the Logistics Officer and bridge watchkeeper in a small coastal survey vessel, where I may have occasionally been sea-sick! My last was as the Director of the UK’s Command and Staff College at Shrivenham, Wiltshire. In between, I was the Logistics Commander of the UK’s Strike Carrier, HMS Ark Royal, was involved in the planning for the Second Gulf War, the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the NATO Response Force, and served as Military Assistant to six Admirals.

State Banquet at the White House, 2007 (Heber far right).

A particular highlight was serving as Equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II between 2004-2007. My role was to accompany the Queen on her many visits, plan her military engagements and act as the interlocutor between her and the people she met, from members of the public to Presidents and Prime Ministers. I had the privilege, for example, of accompanying her on the major State Visit to the United States in 2007, at a time of strain in the special relationship, a situation she and President Bush quickly set right.

I always maintain, quite sincerely, that the Queen was the best boss I ever had. She had a wonderful way of putting people at their ease, as she did with me when we first met, something I was to witness many times over the next three years. She also made a special point of asking me if the role was the right thing for me and my career, the only time any boss has asked me that!

Accompanying the Queen’s coffin, September 2022. Heber is the naval officer in the centre of the image.

Eighteen years later, I put on my uniform for the last time and, along with fellow Equerries, accompanied the Queen on her final journey. While it was a sad time, we felt immensely lucky to have served such a wonderful person, and proud to do that one last duty for her.

Equerry to the Queen, Buckingham Palace, 2007.