AN IRVINE army reserves chef has returned home in time for Christmas after being deployed to the other side of the world and back on the Royal Navy’s largest operational deployment in a generation.

Private Connor Easdale, 24, was deployed on the aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy being 280m long, 70m wide, and weighs 65,000 tonnes.

He said: “I have learnt a lot on this deployment – feeding 1,000 people daily means you have to be really organised and be good at paperwork too to keep track of everything. It has been a challenge at times but I am proud to have been part of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s first operational deployment.

“This has been the longest time I have been away from home and I am looking forward to returning to see my girlfriend, family and friends, visit some local pubs, go cycling and catch up with my squadron again.”

Pte Easdale is a former pupil at St John Ogilvie Primary School and St Matthew’s Academy.

He played the bagpipes in the Irvine District Pipe band and a year after joining the Army reserve in August 2016 he was honoured to play the bagpipes in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and took part in the parade to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Royal Logistics Corps (RLC25) in August 2018, where he met their Colonel-in-Chief, Princess Anne.

Pte Easdale worked part-time as a reservist whilst also studying sports and fitness at college, but decided to pursue a career as a chef as a full time reservist in late 2018.

He joined HMS Queen Elizabeth in June 2019 when the ship went to the east coast of the United States for an operational testing phase called ‘Westlant 19’, which was the first time british pilots had flown F35B jets from a British Aircraft carrier.

This deployment on Op FORTIS has been his first operational role and his main job onboard has been as a chef, but he is also a Fire Fighter as part of his duties and has had the opportunity to play his bagpipes onboard too.