Prior to assuming command of HMS Wildfire Commander Lee was the Head of the RNR Public Affairs Branch.

His first contact with the sea was as a deck apprentice in a tramp, before reading history. He was later BBC correspondent in Moscow and covered defence and foreign affairs. In 1982, having directed BBC
Radio's military coverage of the Falklands Campaign, he was asked by the new C-in-C Fleet (Admiral Sir William Staveley) to design and
establish a training and recruiting programme for ex-RN uniformed public affairs officers. During the 1980s had become Quatercentary
Fellow in Contemporary History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

He is the author of This Sceptred Isle, a popular history best seller and BBC Radio 4 series. He is also a radio scriptwriter and novelist.

Commander Richards (promoted Captain in 1996) trained with Shell Tankers and served in the RFA, and the RNR from 1964 to 1970 when he transferred to the Royal Australian Navy. He saw service in HMAS Sydney operating to and from Vietnam and commanded a patrol boat operating in Papua-New Guinea. In 1974 he returned to the UK and the Merchant Navy, serving in the RFA, in VLCCs, and with Hoverspeed.

During Operation Corporate in 1982, he was recalled for service in the RN and subsequently as the Merchant Navy Staff Officer at the Maritime Trade Faculty in HMS Vernon. Later employment involved Bahamian ocean-going tugs, training as a VLCC pilot, Marine Superintendent for a Greek tanker, master of the The Marine Society's T.S. Earl of Romney and currently a Trinity House Deep Sea pilot.

In 1991 he became the first List 1 RNR officer to command an RNR Unit – HMS Wildfire. From 1990 to 1995 as a Commander RNR he took part in many amphibious warfare exercises in Norway and the Arctic, serving as Senior Naval Officer in large passenger ships taken up from trade.

In 1996 was promoted to Captain RNR and became Director of the Amphibious Warfare Branch and Head of RNR List 1, retiring from the RNR in 1999 after very nearly thirty-six years naval service.

He had two periods of recall to service: Feb-Aug 1983 serving as MO in HMS Abdiel and DPMO at HMS Pembroke and HMS Tamar, and Oct 90 - Apr 91 as MO in HMS Active, West Indies Guard Ship. He was awarded the RD and promoted to Surgeon Commander in 1988.

Surgeon Commander Maitland became Executive Officer of HMS Wildfire in 1992 and was appointed Commanding Officer in 1993. He had the honour to shepherd the Unit through the painful final year but ensured that the closure of HMS Wildfire did not go unnoticed, leading the final spectacular parade through Gillingham on Saturday 2nd July 1994.

He was promoted to Surgeon Captain and appointed Director of Medical Reserves in 1995, Queens Honorary Physician in 1996 and was retired in 1998. He was awarded a clasp to the RD in 1999.