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  This page covers the details of Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux's funeral and contains the Funeral Notice, Speeches by Commander Iain Breckenridge RN, Commanding Officer of HMS Submarine Astute and Lieutenant Commander Richard Bowie RN, a Weapon Engineer Officer in the Submarine Service and full career friend of Ian, the Funeral Order of Service and finally a photograph album.

Funeral Notice

  The following file is the original brief which has been reprocessed to rid it of telephone numbers and interactive names.

Ian Molyneux Naval Funeral Brief

Speeches

Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux - The Serviceman

  I first met Ian Molyneux; known to many of us as Moly, in June 2006 when he was working for sea training and helping my command team through training in Faslane. I met him again in November last year and only really got to know him during our period at sea from February-April this year. It was then that I discovered what many of you already knew: that this gentle giant with the mischievous twinkle in his eye was also a supremely professional Weapons Engineer and submariner whose knowledge and technical expertise spread far beyond the boundary of his own department. There have been some common threads running through the many e-mails I received while preparing for this day. Inspirational, mentor, shipmate. Great man and great boss leapt from every page but one simple message captured how quickly Ian could reach out and influence someone: I only met Ian once, in the bar talking rubbish, but I feel that I have lost something important we all have.

  Ian joined the Royal Navy on 3 September 1990 as an artificer at Collingwood. It did not take very long for his ability and character to highlight his eminent suitability for promotion to officer. As one friend in Abbeywood stated, Ian had enthusiasm and a depth of knowledge that left others trailing in his wake. During his time in HMS Lancaster in 1993 it was clear that he had more to offer and had the aspiration and drive to succeed. However, it was just as well he followed the W.E. Route as during his time at Dartmouth when he was training first year engineering students he volunteered to captain one of the boats. Attempting the first alongside of the day, he managed to ram the jetty at Sandquay at nearly full speed. There followed many sharp intakes of breath and quick damage checks during which Moly, in a manner that we all recognise, simply shrugged his shoulders and said I’ll try not to do that again. That great attitude is simply summed up by many friends: I can never remember a time when Ian wasn't smiling and the tougher the time the broader his smile. Ian emerged from training in 2002 and joined HMS Victorious Stbd then HMS Vigilant Stbd as the TWEO. It was here that he recognised that the Executive Officer of any submarine he would go on to serve on board had clearly been put there for him to wind up! Several XO's have looked on aghast as Ian got stuck into a big sarnie at lunch, fully wedged up as we call it, or were struck to their very core when Ian referred to salad cream as Wigan mayonnaise. He also made a lasting impression at dinner parties with one wife never having met anyone who could eat so much and was worried supplies would run out.

  Ian spent 2 years in Abbeywood from Jan 2004-apr 06. A condolence book was signed by many people, from Admiral to Able Seamen, who worked with him during his succesful time in Bristol. One of the finest officers I have served with, it was a privilege to have known and to have served alongside Ian, with his timely sense of humour and dry wit he could raise spirits and motivate people even when the going got tough. His influence on trainees was immense. As one officer remembers, Ian was TWEO when I was qualifying and he had a significant input not only into my qualification as a submariner but also the manner in which I conducted myself as a TWEO. Civilian staff at sea training from 2006-08 recall his ability to make the complex understandable and the fact that he always had time for others. Naval colleagues recall his ability with people whether it was leading and encouraging or telling it as is, and always delivered with that cheerful smile and cracking northern sense of humour. He mentored many friends both M.E. (Marine Engineering) and W.E. (Weapons Engineering) as they worked towards engineering charge qualification with Astute's DWEO's recent success being a shining example of how hard he worked to help others: my Comms Officer and AMEO ships also benefited from just sitting listening. Perhaps the best assessment from one colleague was that he brought him from a Tactical Weapon system pygmy with a strategic systems background to a competent and confident TWEO. But it is his fire control training mantra that many recall post a big night out in Helensburgh, if you can't do it hungover, you can't do it at all. Ian could do it and went onto complete his WEO's course and join HMS Ambush in January 2009. His commanding officer noted that Ian became widely known and respected during his 18 months in Barrow. He has left an indelible, mark in Ambush through laying the management foundations, establishing a strong naval ethos in an embryonic crew and as a Senior Manager, setting the tone that pervades to this day. His effervescent humour, innate people skills and total professional commitment made him stand out the archetypal submariner in every respect, he imbued the essence and qualities that makes the submarine service so good.

  In 2010 the opportunity arose for Ambush to form the very first submarine field gun crew. Ian became a man on a mission. He was pivotal to the huge success of the Ambush field gun crew: he was the life and soul of the team, immensely passionate and totally committed and, when the situation called for an inspirational leader, he set an outstanding example to all. The team won 3 trophies at the inter service competition and Ian will forever be synonymous as the leading light in this. As a colleague and highly regarded Naval Officer, his support and loyalty along with his friendship and counsel are the hallmarks of his time in Ambush and remain my enduring and unshakeable memory of him. Simply summed up by other Ambush colleagues, top bloke, top field gunner and top boss. A great guy and great field gunner. A great boss and true friend.

  Ian joined Astute in July 2010 and slipped effortlessly into the team. His deep technical expertise was immediately evident and helped to move forward many seemingly intractable issues. I know that he provided my predecessor with excellent support and was rightly considered as the best WEO in the Faslane flotilla. Fleet headquarters staff always enjoyed hearing from Ian be it just to pass a few updates or to give a run down on weapon load progress in Faslane under several feet of snow. I benefited from his wise counsel and expert knowledge even before I joined Astute. Just talking to Ian you were instantly struck by his passion for the job and its challenges: as Gillian told me last week he used to refer to Ambush as his first baby and Astute as his second. His little quips and jokes made us all laugh: for anyone working in Faslane a pint of bitter and twisted will be forever known as a pint of Back Aftie.

  He formed an exceptional partnership with my Marine Engineering Officer, Lt Cdr Chris Hodge. And between them no technical matter was left untouched. No candidate at an Officer of the Day or Ship Control Board relished the prospect of spending 2-3 hours in front of the Captain and Heads of Department as they knew a pass required hard work and much technical knowledge. What they perhaps did not appreciate was the amount of biscuits and chocolate required to keep Chris and Ian nibbling for a few hours. The Standards set at such boards will pervade through the whole: Astute Class and Ian was instrumental in making them tough but achievable. The Hodge-Moly partnership was one of laughter, ribbing and huge mutual respect for engineering and submarining excellence. The wardroom has been a quieter place without Ian constantly reminding Chris of how much he looks like Princess Fiona from Shrek. But don't worry as the rest of us have no qualms about not letting Chris forget.

  There was no doubt that wherever or whatever Ian was doing his heart only belonged in one place; with Gillian, James, Arron, Bethany and Charlie in his beloved Wigan. I now know where the best pies are made, where the best rugby league side plays and where to get a proper pint at a proper price. Every message I received highlighted his devotion to his family and ability to find time to help his local community. He is very much an example to us all in how to be great at your job, devoted to your family and contribute so much to others. I am lucky to have had such an exceptional man and gifted submarine officer as my Weapons Engineer and a member of my senior management team. Yet, and as am sure that all who worked with him will readily attest, it was having Ian as a shipmate that was much more important. Shipmate, a word that those who have not served at sea perhaps view as just another term for friend or colleague, yet it means so much more. A shipmate is someone in whom you can place your complete trust. Someone who will go that extra bit for the good of the team, a man who will readily confront trouble to avoid situations becoming worse, someone with whom you can really talk to about the stresses and strains of life at sea in a submarine and someone who knows that there is always room for laughter. I know that every man in Astute considered Moly as a true shipmate and held him in the highest regard.

  My last memory of Ian is from that Friday morning three weeks ago when we were hosting our guests. Ian told me that Radio Solent was after an interview with me but I asked him if he would do it as I had done all the others. He popped off and made a phone call. A few minutes later he tapped me on the shoulder and told me that it was all arranged and that he was undoubtedly the better choice given that he had a great face for radio. I laughed and said thanks, this was our last exchange. I will finish with some words from Lieutenant Ian Tomlin who captures Moly in a few lines better than I have in several paragraphs: In the 13 years I have known Moly he has continually been a friend, guide and mentor and without doubt I would not be where I am today without his assistance and friendship. I imagine that there are many other submariners serving today who would say the same thing. I am one of those still serving and would simply like to say thanks Moly. We still have lots to do but we won't let you down.

Iain Breckenridge Commander Royal Navy Commanding Officer HMS Astute

Ian T Molyneux Funeral 28 Apr 2011

  I first met Ian nearly 21 years ago, when, as 16 year old boys, we joined the navy amongst another 150 people. It is a testament to him that many of those we joined with, both those who have since left and those who still serve, are either here today, or have paid tribute to him in some way over the last three weeks. As two of the youngest members, it was somewhat natural that we would get on. However, I was taken by the seemingly much more adventurous life he chose to lead after the untimely loss of his mother at age 11: it was how he took a firm grip of life in the face of adversity; his determination to extract all that life could offer, and that he would live life on his terms that struck me the most. At the end of each day of training, the regular call across the room that we all shared was, in a very camp John Inman style "Richard, are you coming to Tea". This was met with much sniggering and derision from some of room-mates, who were mostly older, but he would continue to do it every night. It was how he held himself in the face of criticism; how he remained true to himself, that I found most impressive. We quickly became best mates and our friendship would endure and see us miss-spend our formative years in the navy, until of course he reached the next chapter of his life.

  It was around the time, just before he joined Dartmouth to start Officer training, that he met Gill, all the signs were there; more frequent discreet phone calls, more weekends spent at home, and with his impending commission we laughed about how an unplanned child would be really unlucky. I remember this vividly, he was completely confident, and totally assured that whilst it was truly unfortunate, expert medical advice said that it was unlikely that he and Gill would have children. What do they know anyway! Ian sometimes had a tendency to accept fully what people offered at face value. It was not naivety as such, but his belief that everyone had good in them and no one would intentionally mislead others, doctors or otherwise! Needless to say, he returned from leave and reported that the doctors had indeed lied, Gill was pregnant with Jamie. In the greatest traditions of the Royal Navy, where Molly looked for a kind ear and sympathetic shoulder, he instead found magazine clippings of nappies and prams. Of course, Ian turned it all on its head, declaring, “they said that I would never manage that", and it became a pattern of his life that he would exceed other people's expectations. Of note, it was not the last that he would get the better of medical experts. Whether by fate or design he also managed to squeeze in Charlie just weeks before his planned date for a vasectomy. But knowing him well, very little happened by chance.

  It is the nature of our work that we sometimes do not speak to our own families, or our friends for weeks, and even months at a time when at sea, so it is also completely normal for us to speak to and look in on our friends families in our absence. When I was at sea, Molly would of course pop in to see my wife Lisa, who was pregnant at the time, to offer help and some company. He would dutifully drive up to our house, he would "accidentally of course" manage to peep his horn, and try his hardest to be completely conspicuous before letting himself in to make a brew. With a twinkle of mischief in his eye, I'm sure that the presence of another officer letting himself into a married quarter in the middle of the day was not lost on him. But was a measure of our friendship that whether it was every Friday afternoon as he drove home for the weekend, or 7 months between speaking, the conversation was never awkward and the banter started off again from where it was left. In short Ian was scarily intelligent, had an enormous appetite for detail and was highly driven. He justly deserved a very bright future, and that he managed to achieve everything he did without treading on those around him ensured that he was and will remain popular. However, his career was never his top priority-from our conversations; everything he considered, everything he planned to do, everything he completed was measured against the benefit of Gill and his family.

  But he was also completely down to earth, and had such humility that nothing was too much trouble for him, nothing had to be asked for, it was always offered, he was completely dependable. There are not many people you meet in life that you just 'click' with immediately, but to click with someone with the quality that Molly had, I have been luckier than I could ever dream of. He inspired me whilst he lived to be better, to be braver; and as his memory and legacy endures, he will inspire us all.

Richard BOWIE, Weapon Engineer Officer, Lieutenant Commander Royal Navy Royal Navy Submarine Service

Funeral Order of Service

Funeral Order of Service

Video and Photographs

  First, we invite you to watch a small video taken from Forces TV You Tube (Copyright remains that of Forces TV).

Funeral of Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux

Photograph Album

A day of pride, of dignity, of fraternity and overt love, but above all else, a day of abject and total sadness, of disbelief and of irreconcilable grief for the loss of Ian.

   Photographs of Ian Molyneux's Funeral on the 28th April 2011. Clicking on the image below will play Tchaikovsky's No6 Symphony "Pathetique" 4th Movement, if you wish to stop the music then click once outside the image.

Tchaikovsky's No6 Symphony "Pathetique" 4th Movement

Click on image to play

Click on each thumbnail to reveal the caption

Awards, Dedications and Memorials The Inquest The Funeral The Grave

Contemplation