This Is Your Life: Larry Slater

Petty Officer Aircrewman Larry SLATER (1953-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Larry Slater, Royal Navy Aircrewman, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while being interviewed onboard the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal.

Larry, who was born in Wavertree, Liverpool, but brought up in the city's Anfield district, joined the Royal Navy after leaving school at 16. After being stationed at Plymouth, he spent three years as a radar operator on HMS Chichester between 1973 and 1976.

Following training in air-sea rescue at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall, Larry spent some time onboard HMS Ark Royal carrying out operational duties before undertaking his first rescue mission during the Fastnet race disaster of 1979. By 1986, Larry had carried out over 160 rescue missions, saved thirty-six lives and earned the George Medal for bravery.

"I'll kill somebody for this!"

programme details...

Edition No: 702
Subject No: 697
Broadcast date: Wed 9 Apr 1986
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Fri 4 Apr 1986
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 26
Edition: 24
Code name: Water

on the guest list...

David George
colleagues from 771 Naval Air Squadron
David Coles
Eileen - mother
Harry - father
Lyn - sister
Jeff - brother-in-law
Jack - grandfather
Gina - grandmother
family members in audience
Mike Palmer
Dave Marr
Ralph Bell
David Hill
Anne Bell
Charlie Bell
Ryan Bell
Lucinda Bell
Phil Caslin
Jimmy McGuinness
Jamie Bold
Tony Lloyd
Wilf Gribble
Bill Mulvin
Michael Hackman
Lee Johnstone
George MacDermott
Frank Worley
Arthur Moss
David Wallace
Wayne Martin
Norman Bailey
Paul Rockall
Julian Grinney
Paul Shortman
Kenny Dalglish
Carl - son
Simon Le Bon

production team...

Researchers: Caroline Blackadder, Miriam O'Callaghan
Writer: Tom Brennand
Directors: Terry Yarwood, Michael D Kent
Associate Producer: Brian Klein
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Life Savers

heroes of the emergency services

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Screenshots of Larry Slater This Is Your Life

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

Petty Officer Larry Slater of the Air Sea Rescue flew more than 160 missions, saving thirty-six lives, including that of pop star Simon Le Bon, and earning the George Medal for bravery.

The Le Bon rescue was his second mission of the day from Coldrose in Cornwall. Simon's yacht, Drum, had upturned off Land's End. Inside the boat, six people, including the pop star, were trapped in an air pocket. Larry Slater repeatedly dived into the air pocket, finding his way through a mass of wreckage and ropes to rescue all six people.

Series 26 subjects