A MULTI-national operation in the Outer Hebrides will be on the menu for a school catering manager from Rossendale.

Iain Campbell will swap his kitchen whites at Haslingden High for a Royal Navy reservist uniform as he embarks on a three-week mission to the Isle of Lewis.

The 47-year-old will be handling logistics for an international naval exercise involving fleets from across the globe and will be based on Stornoway.

He said: “The main centre will be at the Faslane Naval Base on the River Clyde and I will be getting my instructions from them.

“My role will be to move passengers, mail and cargo. I will be predominantly dealing with casualties, making sure they receive treatment and ensuring they are safely repatriated.

“I would not be able to do this were it not for the support I have received from my line manager Deborah Dawes, the headteacher Mark Jackson, the catering team and the senior leadership team at Haslingden High.”

Each year the naval reserve undertake two main training exercises and this is not the first time that Iain, also a recruitment officer, has been deployed. His advice for potential recruits is always to finish their studies before considering a full-time career in the armed forces.

He added: “There will be a very large number of personnel involved in this operation and there will be 18 in our team keeping an eye on everyone. We will be extremely busy.

“I will also be responsible for problem solving. If there is a ship with a part missing I will have to source it so the operation can continue. It will be a 24-hour job.”