Hi Nigel.....yes , am sure that Nick was ex RN. I first met him years ago in Songkhla (Thailand) where he was retained on a regular basis by Unocal as their aviation auditor. Recall a couple of occasions when I had him in the jump seat of the 61 watching how we did it. He was always very fair and entirely pragmatic.
Later , after I moved to Cougar Helicopters in Koh Samui , we met again in the same role as auditor although by this time he was looking at retirement and had married Nicky.
Caught up with him again , socially , earlier last year when I was visiting Steve Birchall ...both he and Steve had become Koh Samui "locals" by then.
Always good for a chat and a laugh , and professionally , one of the more realistic auditors I have worked with.