Peter Stilton takes over as first lieutenant at Culdrose

Twenty-two years after arriving at RNAS Culdrose as a young air engineer, Lieutenant Peter Stilton has never worked anywhere else. Now he has taken on one of the busiest jobs on the base.

Filling a role at the top

Lt Stilton, known at RNAS Culdrose as ‘Cheezy’, has stepped up to temporarily cover the role of first lieutenant, the right-hand of the station’s executive officer, at least until the end of the year. He replaces Lieutenant Commander Helen Dobbs, who has taken up an engineering job elsewhere at the air station.

From Sea Kings to Merlins

Lt Stilton joined the Royal Navy in 2003 as an air engineer, serving originally on Sea King helicopters with 849 Naval Air Squadron. He converted to Merlin aircraft in 2015 and served with 814 and 824 squadrons, rising to become a chief petty officer before commissioning as an officer.

Most recently he served as deputy senior air engineer for the fixed-wing and uncrewed air systems force, part of a Royal Navy career spent entirely at the Cornwall air station.

“Very busy and completely different”

“I’ve been at Culdrose my entire career,” he said. “This role is very busy and completely different, but I have lots of experience of Culdrose and I am looking forward to ensuring the smooth-running of the air station.”

📷Credit: RNAS Culdrose