Four amongst Top Ten

On Wednesday 12th January 2011 a luncheon was held for the ten longest serving personnel in the RNZN. Chief Petty Officer Len Bilton had the dubious honour of attaining 50 years of continuous service and the first ever to accomplish this in the New Zealand Defence Force.  Below is a photo taken on the day.

Left to Right
Commander Rex Edwards – 43 years 359 days
Lieutenant Commander Gary Hine – 40 years 170 days
Commander Frank Rands – 44 years 232 days
Commander Kevin Corles – 39 years 9 days
Chief Petty Officer Len Bilton – 50 years
Lieutenant Commander Owen Young – 42 years 6 days
Lieutenant Commander Allen Mortimer – 46 years 321 days
Warrant Officer Blue Allen – 41 years 238 days
Lieutenant Commander Rick Howland – 42 years 360 days

Those marked RED are all Communicators.  The missing aged person was Warrant Officer Reece Golding – 47 years 357 days.

Interesting that of the ten longest serving, eight are, or were, from the lower deck.