A COLOURFUL Angle character has retired from the Royal Navy after 27 years – leaving on the same scooter he used to travel to his first job with the service.

Reverend Mike Brotherton, aged 54, left HMS Drake at Plymouth naval base for the last time on Tuesday.

He left for Pembrokeshire on his Lambretta scooter – the same one he used to travel to his first job in 1984 as the assistant chaplain at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire.

On his departure Mike said: “I’m driving out of these gates after a fantastic 27 years in the Royal Navy. It is the end of one era, but the beginning of a new life adventure and I look forward to my time in Pembrokeshire.”

During his service Mike spent many years at sea with a wide variety of warships. He was chaplain to the 4th Frigate Squadron serving on HM ships active, Amazon, Ambuscade, Alacrity, Arrow and Avenger. In 1987, he became assistant chaplain at HMS Drake, in Plymouth and during this time he created his first all-ranks coffee bar.

In 1990, he was appointed chaplain to HMS Nelson in Portsmouth, where he built and established The Blue Lamp Coffee Bar. He was also chaplain to the Portsmouth Field Gun crew and took part in charity work raising money for cancer projects.

In 1993 Mike joined the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in one of the highlights of his career. He arrived on board the ship, which was on patrol in the Adriatic, dressed as his favourite character – Charlie Chaplin.

While on Ark Royal he was awarded an MBE for his pastoral work to all ranks within the navy.

A return to HMS Collingwood in 1995 saw him organise the Charlie Chaplin Fun Run – from HMS Collingwood to Collingwood House in Northumberland. Mike also set up The Chaplin’s Coffee Bar.

In 1997 Mike was appointed to his second stint at the 4th Frigate Squadron.

In his latter years Mike spent two years on board the navy’s largest warship HMS Ocean, was the chaplain at the flag officer sea training organisation in Plymouth and, at HMS Drake.

Mike is a keen artist and hopes his retirement will enable him to spend more time painting around the Pembrokeshire coast.