THREE Peebles men are looking forward to returning home after six months on board HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Squadron leader Stewart Campbell, 41, lieutenant Alfie Pace, 29, and able seaman (AB) William Napier, 24, all served on the vessel.

The warship is the largest ever constructed for the Royal Navy and has been touring the world as part of the Carrier Strike Group.

Squadron leader Campbell attended Priorsford Primary School and Peebles High School.

He worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at Peebles Swimming Pool and was also a mechanic and sales assistant in a bicycle shop called George Pennel Cycles. He left to go to the University of Edinburgh to study a Bachelor of Education Honours degree in physical education where he also represented Scotland at cycling.

He has flown the Tucano, Tornado GR4, Red Arrows, and is now an F-35B Strike Fighter pilot, flying on exercises and operational missions from HMS Queen Elizabeth with 617 Squadron, better known as the ‘Dambusters’.

He said: “I joined for adventure, for the opportunities to travel and to fly fighter aircraft. I got the thirst for it watching fast jets operating at low level over the Scottish Borders and often saw them fly past the windows during lessons at Peebles High School.”

Lieutenant Pace attended Peebles High School and used to play cricket for Peebles County Cricket Club. He still enjoys playing for them with his father when he visits, fishing in the river Tweed and visiting his favourite pub, the Neidpath Inn.

He used to work at Glentress Hotel before joining the Royal Navy.

He said: "I wanted to join the Navy from a young age, and once played the role of the Naval Officer, Beltane Admiral, as a 10-year-old, in the Beltane town festival, which may have had an impact."

Onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, Lt Pace is the second navigator (N2) and enjoys conducting pilotages, which involved bringing the ship in and out of harbour, and co-ordinating movements with the other ships in the taskgroup.

Able seaman Napier attended Kingsland Primary School and Peebles High School. Most of his family still live in in the town and he continues to play for Peebles Rugby Club whenever he returns home.

Prior to joining the Navy, he spent four years doing a car mechanic apprenticeship at Harrisons Ford Garage followed by 18 months in the workshop at Crossburn Caravans.

Once qualified, he was based at Royal Navy Air Squadron (RNAS) Culdrose with 820 NAS.

In his role onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth his focus has been to service and maintain the Merlin MK2 helicopter.

He said: "I joined the Royal Navy to travel, meet new people, and have an interesting role with career progression."

Since being on HMS Queen Elizabeth he has enjoyed visiting Sicily, Cyprus, Guam, Oman, Palma and Rota, but is now looking forward to returning home for Christmas to see his family, friends and dogs.