Sailor Ryan’s pride at helping typhoon relief

Able Seaman Ryan Lilliman (25), is currently deployed to South East Asia onboard the 22,000 ton Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

A member of the Supply Chain Department, Ryan – who is known as Lilli to his friends – helps to supervise, account for and issue a huge variety of stores.

He said: “We hold millions of pounds worth of equipment to ensure that HMS Illustrious’ aircraft and aircrew can operate continuously.

“I also have a variety of secondary roles onboard, including as an Assault Guide. In this role, I help to coordinate the movement of personnel from the ship to waiting aircraft.

“I expect that I will be very busy during our time in the Philippines as we put teams ashore to assist with the relief effort.”

Ryan attended Manor Comprehensive School from 1999-2006.

He joined the Royal Navy in 2011, completing his basic training at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall. Ryan has been a member of HMS Illustrious’ Ship’s Company for 19 months.

During this time he has visited the Mediterranean, the Middle East and now the Far East.

Ryan said: “We have been redeployed from tasking off the Horn of Africa to assist the Filipino people. Everyone onboard has seen images in the news and is eager to help. As a member of the stores department, I was part of the team that oversaw the embarkation of more than 500 tons of humanitarian and disaster relief stores.

“We spent 48 hours in Singapore, storing the ship around the clock. It has probably been the biggest effort of its kind for the Royal Navy since the Falklands War in 1982.

“To be involved in such a feat fills me with pride. It was a truly mammoth task.”