Biographical Information
Security And Safety Advisor
Mike Groves
For over twenty-two years, Mike Groves was committed to a life of service in one area or another and protecting the security interests of the United Kingdom and/or her citizens, before injuries sustained in the attack against the Seabourn Spirit ended his career in this field.
During his military service he found himself working alongside some of the finest military units around the world in various arena’s or during military ‘war games’, including HM Royal Marines and their notoriously tough Mountain Leaders (ML’s) deep inside the arctic circle, the Gurkha’s, Black Watch, the French Foreign Legion and US Rangers, who had a bizarre habit in his opinion of jumping out of perfectly serviceable helicopters and into tall tree tops.
Mike also found his Commando Sqdn working in a supporting role with the SAS (22 & 23 Regiments) / SBS & US Navy Seals, Int14, German & Dutch special forces and last but not least some of the most courageous of all - Army, Navy & Air Force Medical Corps from various nations.
Recommended by his Commanding Officer for further advancement through Dartmouth Naval Academy, Mike finally choose to follow his father and brother into the police service, leaving the military with an exemplary service record in 1991..
Mike went on to serve with the police service for over 11 years where he served in some of thee most notorious policing areas in the West Midlands; Ladywood, Winson Green, Handsworth and Hillfields, Coventry.
Injured during his probation and subsequently spending a year with the Divisional Observations Team (DOT’s) ‘recuperating’, Mike decided that looking through binoculars, eating out of tins cans in the pouring rain and talking gibberish (in code) was not for him and was later re-instated to full operational duties to Handsworth, as his own request.
Mike later served as a Detective Sergeant with Special Branch before opting to take a sabbatical in order to travel for two years following his divorce in 2003.
He was soon recruited by Cunard Cruise Lines to join their auxiliary Seabourn fleet, The Yachts of Seabourn, as a Ship's Security & Safety Officer.
Mike’s yearning to return to a life of service was still always paramount in his mind. He was in the process of reapplying to return to the police when the Seabourn Spirit was attacked off the coast of Somalia.
For his heroic efforts aboard Seabourn Spirit, Mike received the Queen's Gallantry Medal from the Queen herself at Buckingham Palace in The United Kingdom on May 16, 2007. This explains the QGM after his name.
Mike's previous hobbies included rock climbing, diving, cycling, and gym work - body pump/circuit training but now resides himself to advancing his cuisine cooking skills and long soaks in the local jacuzzi.
