Wisbech man’s 94 mile walk in memory of submariner brother

A grieving brother is to lace up his walking boots and raise money for a cause close to his family’s heart.

Stuart Cree, from Wisbech, is walking 94 miles in aid of We Remember Submariners in memory of his brother David who died last November aged 63.

David was a retired Chief Petty Officer who served in the Royal Navy on board Trident and Polaris submarines, patrolling international waters as part of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

On a Gofundme page launched with a goal of raising £3,000 for the charity, Stuart said: “While David served I gave scant thought to what mental pressures such a working environment may hold - 12-week patrols without any sunlight; no natural horizon; living next to a nuclear reactor and 12 live nuclear ballistic missiles capable of obliterating life as we know it; constantly aware that if the order came, they would have to enact potential Armageddon with the thought of families back home and the uncertainty of what life they would return to.

“David’s death was alcohol-related, following a slow decline over many years of heavy drinking – what I realise now was actually undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following his highly stressful submariner career.

“It would appear alcoholism could have a genetic association and like acute depression I don’t claim to understand it, but what seems clear now is that David's illness crept up on him, he isolated himself from his family, avoided social media, and minimised communication.

“We Remember Submariners is a small British charity supporting submarine personnel and their families who have fallen on hard times following a lifetime career serving their country.

“They fund wreaths for national memorial services and at the death of submariners across the UK and in March this year acquired a holiday caravan to use as a respite lodge on the southern Cornish coast.

“In memory of David, I have pledged to attempt to walk the 94 miles of the West Highland Way in Scotland, part of which passes close to the home of the British Submarine Nuclear Deterrent at Faslane, Gare Loch in April 2025.

“It will test me, and I genuinely don’t know if I will be able to complete it for at 62 I have spent most of my life in front of a computer or behind a steering wheel.

“I will understand if you don’t feel this cause is worth your donation, there are so many problems in the world today, but these men and they mostly are men, can be significantly traumatised by the silent stress they have encountered patrolling underwater to keep us safe. Any amount you give will be well spent and will push me on to complete my goal. Thank you.”

Stuart is walking with his friend Anthony Browne who is raising money for men’s mental health charity 856foundation.org.uk