A ROYAL Navy Officer from Kidderminster is playing a key role as weatherman in a major deployment to the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Lieutenant Lee Newman, a former Stourport High School pupil, is currently serving on board HMS Albion, Flagship of the Royal Navy, where he works as meteorological officer on the staff of Commodore John Kingwell, Commander UK Task Group.

At the end of May, the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group – a maritime quick reaction force - was deployed to support NATO operations to protect civilians in Libya.

HMS Albion supported helicopter carrier HMS Ocean as she launched her Apache helicopters against regime targets.

Mr Newman said: “Weather will affect all aspects of the ship, including its personnel, aircraft, sensors and weapon systems.

“Careful consideration of weather conditions enables commanders to make best use of the ship in any operational situation.

“I write two tailored and specific weather forecasts each day for HMS Albion and other ships in company, and also formally present a detailed forecast to the ship’s command team twice daily where not only bespoke weather information is delivered but also solar and lunar information.

“There is a genuine feeling of achievement when my forecasted weather materialises, which, as we all know from the TV reports, can be a difficult task.”

Mr Newman joined the Royal Navy as a Naval Airman (METOC) in 1992. Highlights of his career included serving onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal during operations off the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Sierra Leone in 2000 and in Iraq in 2003.

In 2010 he was selected for promotion as an officer and subsequently attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon.

Although his naval career has taken him as far afield as the Caribbean, Baltic and the Arabian Gulf, Mr Newman said Kidderminster remains home.

He explained: “When I am at sea I obviously miss my family. I also miss walking in the local countryside, particularly the Severn Valley.”

His family has strong connections to local military units.

Mr Newman said: “My father and uncle were active members of the Mercian Volunteer Regiment, based at the Shrubbery in Kidderminster.

“My father is now Parade Commander for Stourport British Legion and both my uncle and aunt are involved in local cadet forces.

“I have been proud to represent the Royal Navy at Remembrance Day parades in Kidderminster and Stourport for the past seven years.”