An unsung hero: Grylls presents award to Royal Marine during visit to HMNB Clyde

Bear Grylls has visited the home of the Submarine Service to take part in a health and wellbeing lecture - and to present a Royal Marine with an award for his resilience in the face of injury.

The Honorary Colonel of the Royal Marines visited HM Naval Base Clyde where he met 500 military and civilian personnel who packed into HMS Neptune's Warrant Officers' and Senior Rates Mess to see him.

Col Grylls also explained how his father, who was a Royal Marine, was one of the main reasons he joined the military when he was 19.

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HMS Neptune is the shore establishment at HMNB Clyde, and the HMS Neptune Executive Team introduced the Neptune Educational (NED)Talks to enhance the health and wellbeing of personnel at the base.

"It was fantastic to not only have Bear Grylls at HMNB Clyde but to welcome back JJ Chalmers [a former Royal Marine, Invictus Games medallist and TV presenter] who did our very first NED Talk earlier this year," said one of the attendees.

"Hearing Bear talk about his resilience from breaking his back and the various challenges he has faced in his career was truly inspiring and it was amazing for so many personnel from across the One Clyde Community to hear from Bear in person.

"It was a fantastic event for unit cohesion and I’m excited to see what we have in store for the NED talks next year."

During his visit, he met members of 43 Commando where he presented the Bear Grylls Unsung Hero Award to Royal Marine Ben Horner.

Mne Horner was injured during Commando close combat skills training back in May 2023 and has been through an intense period of rehabilitation.

He was recognised for showing exceptional bravery and resilience throughout this challenging time.

Colonel Adam Whitmarsh, the Commanding Officer of 43 Commando, said: "It is a rare and exciting privilege for us to have Bear Grylls to personally present the Bear Grylls Unsung Hero Award to a Royal Marine who has demonstrated every aspect of the Commando spirit following a life-changing injury suffered in the course of his military duties.

"Bear is an exceptional advocate of the Royal Marines to whom we are eternally grateful for his support; both to the Royal Marines Charity and through his generous annual gift in the form of the Unsung Hero Award."