10 Facts About Nigel Essenhigh

Nigel Essenhigh joined the Royal Navy in 1963, and was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 4 June 1965 and to lieutenant on 1 May 1967.

Nigel Essenhigh served as a navigating officer on the frigate HMS Juno and then the destroyer HMS Antrim before joining the staff of the Flag Officer Sea Training.

Nigel Essenhigh took command of the Type 42 destroyer HMS Nottingham in 1982 and saw service in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and West Indies.

Nigel Essenhigh took command of another Type 42 destroyer, HMS Exeter, in April 1989, and saw operational service during the Gulf War.

Nigel Essenhigh attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley in 1992 before being promoted to commodore and becoming Director of Naval Plans and Programmes at the Ministry of Defence later that year.

Nigel Essenhigh was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1999 Birthday Honours.

Nigel Essenhigh was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 2002 Birthday Honours and retired on 3 December 2002.

In retirement Nigel Essenhigh became an advisor to Northrop Grumman and from 2010 to 2011 he was chief executive of its Information Systems Europe business, involved in the supply of command, control, and intelligence and counter-IED products to customers throughout Europe.

Nigel Essenhigh was a non-executive director of Babcock International and Patron of Journey South 2007, an expedition to the South Pole.

Nigel Essenhigh has an interest in local matters and he remains a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon.