FASLANE trainee Christopher Durham is following his father into Royal Navy's Submarine Service - and he has big shoes to fill! For his dad, Kevin, is no ordinary submariner.

He is one of a unique few who have served on more than 20 nuclear deterrent patrols - that's more than five years under the water.

Kevin is the proud wearer of a Gold Deterrent Pin, given to submariners who have completed more than 20 deterrent patrols and forms parts of an elite group.

Chris is still awaiting his first trip to sea on a submarine as he completes training for his Submarine Qualification at HM Naval Base Clyde - where his dad has just finished his last ever patrol on HMS Vanguard.

Kevin admits that there was a lump in his throat when he walked down the gangway for the last time.

He said: "I don't say it very often, but I've loved every minute of it. I am very proud to have been a submariner."

Kevin, 52, a communications specialist, was a late starter.

He joined the navy in 1988 when he was 29 after a spell in the RAF and then time as a civilian in a sweet factory.

When the call of the sea came he went straight into the Submarine Service and has spent 23 years on - in strict order - Renown, Resolution, Ocelot, Vanguard, Victorious, Trafalgar, Victorious, Vanguard, Vigilant and Vanguard.

"It was right that Vanguard should be my last boat after having served on her three times," he added.

The Leading Hand is taking up a land job at the Royal Navy Acquaint Centre at HMS Collingwood in Portsmouth.

It's where youngsters are taken if they have shown an interest in a naval career.

And while Kevin's wife Caroline is "overjoyed" that her husband is quitting the sea., she is also resigned to Christopher, 24, following in his dad's footsteps.

As he trains at HM Naval Base Clyde, Chris has some fond memories locally too - he spent eight years with his parents in married quarters in Helensburgh and was a pupil of Hermitage Academy.

He's now studying Strategic Weapons Systems so he's starting collecting missions for his own pin while youngsters in Collingwood will come under the guidance of a big jovial man who might just whisper under his breath: "Submarines are the best."