“The three of us were the first to enter the stricken submarine, Kursk. For the Russians they were in the gloom at the brink of a grave that had entombed 118 of their friends and colleagues. I was carefully performing an allotted task, unique in human and technical challenge. A long long way from…”
    “So Mark, how did it all begin?”
    I was speaking to Mark Girdlestone, Master Diver and Mason, in his office at the back of the diving shop he runs with his wife in Brightlingsea, on the Essex coast.
    “I enjoyed my childhood years living by the North East Essex Coast; swimming, diving and football, and not too much study. At age twelve, I was taught to dive below the piers of Walton and Clacton. Both of my parents were substantially disabled but fought and overcome this to the bitter end. I acquired their major positive outlook, learning from them to overcome, rather than to be overcome, by challenge. I was accepted into the Royal Navy as a direct entry clearance diver and was trained in a range of under-water operations, explosives handling, bomb clearance, and the Naval Deep Diving Unit. I served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, where I was involved in the clearance of sunken British vessels. I left after seven years.”
    “Why did you leave diving in the Royal Navy?
    “I was driven to do the ultimate in diving; that was, and still is, the North Sea. The ultimate challenge is composed of the depths, the environment and the pioneering engineering and construction tasks. At 500 feet below I have driven a converted “JCB”, to level out the sea-bed and install a valve, the size of a house, to receive gas and oil from the depths of the earth. These were the initial days of saturation diving. We are sealed in a pressurised chamber on the support ship then descend to work in a diving bell and return after our shift on the sea-bed. It is work and sleep for 28 days, and until recent technology advances, largely isolated from the outside world.”
    “Have you had any near misses? Do you fear death?”
    “Yes, I have had near misses and I have lost colleagues. I recently rescued a colleague who was losing his gas supply. And I have had my ear-drums damaged by explosions. I have, after all, been diving for nearly thirty years. The risk and danger are part of the task, a challenge to be overcome. No, I am not frightened of death, premature or otherwise. I have had the experiences of my parent’s disabilities and their premature loss, the loss of colleagues and of a close friend: but I have a sure confidence that one day I will see them again.”
    “I have a Christian belief that is based upon a knowledge of myself and my experiences, and makes some sense of them. I believe in a Supreme Being who has given us rules for guidance, forgiving when we fail. My faith is deeply personal and gives me feelings of traditional values, family values and respect and care for others.”
    “That must lead us to your Freemasonry!”
    “Yes, freemasonry is complimentary to what I am and what I believe in. It has a history of traditional values. I first began to think about it during a twenty-eight day saturation dive with five colleagues, all of whom were masons. There was the time to consider the issues and to read John Robinson’s book, Born in Blood. Upon my return I was initiated into St. Osyths Priory Lodge, No. 2063, Clacton on Sea. I am able to read extensively and the challenge of New Age History provides opportunity to evaluate my traditional beliefs. Freemasonry has helped me to “pull together” the various parts of my life. Wherever in the world I am working I meet with and enjoy openness with masons of all persuasions – the reality of masonry universal.”
    “Tell us about raising the Kursk.”

The Kursk

“The worlds top lifting and recovery companies were contracted by the Russian Federation in order to provide a burial for the submariners and to mitigate environmental risk. My role was first to train the Russian divers in deep sea, then to test new commercial and engineering techniques that had been developed for this task, and finally, to lead a diving team. This is the first time in history that a military vessel of such displacement, at 330 feet below, was to be raised.”
    “The initial survey of the submarine was to check for radiation leaks. In order to ensure a stable lift to the surface, it was first necessary to remove the damaged bow section. We then had to cut through the outer and pressure hulls to cut locations for, and fit the “grippers”, like giant Rawlplugs, for the attachment of the cables from the 26 cranes on the lifting barge above. It was intended that the cutting of the hulls should be by cold techniques using high-pressure abrasives but the steel was too hard. Thus, after “risk assessment”, we were hot cutting - producing molten metal - in an environment of two nuclear reactors, twenty two Granit cruise missiles and conventional ordnance!”
    “As the task developed so did great friendship with the Russians. I felt increasingly closer to the lost submariners, and aware, that I was working on their tomb; but, in the knowledge that the outcome of the work would be a burial providing some consolation for the bereaved. Now that it is safely lifted, and in dry dock in Murmansk, most of the bodies have been recovered.”
    “I understand you received honours from the Russian Navy.”
    “Yes, we were all presented with the Insignia of the First Sea Lord of the Fleet and I was presented with the Russian Submariners Medal.”
    “So, how are you going to follow that?”
    “I am about to take up a two year diving contract in Malaysia and Vietnam. It will mean working again with the team that raised the Kursk. Unfortunately, it will also mean closing down my diving shop and school even though my wife and I will maintain our family base in the area. My wife will be regularly joining me in the Far East to help organise diving holidays for enthusiasts.”
    “I have another project: the year before last, a close friend and colleague died. Unbeknown to us he had established a diving club for people with disabilities. I wish to form a charity and to continue this work in his memory. To this end, I am teaching diving to a young man who has significant upper and lower limb impairment. When we are in the water, we use the same equipment and are equally, sharing the adventure of diving. Hopefully this experience can be extended to many more.”
    “Jane and I have been invited to St. Petersburg to meet up with Russian friends and colleagues, submariners and relatives of those lost on the Kursk. Through giving after-dinner speeches and talks, I am collecting contributions for the Kursk Relatives Relief Fund. I believe that among these people with whom I will be in Russia, will be some in the Fraternity.”
    I took my leave of Mark and Jane feeling that my own experiences seemed very very ordinary.

Gerald Reilly is a member of St. Osyth’s Priory Lodge No. 2063, Clacton on Sea.