Congratulations to Royal Marine Henry Kirby Woodhouse, who successfully completed his Royal Marine Commando course at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, Devon.

Henry was part of 818 Troop King's Squad. The passing out ceremony was attended by Rear-Admiral Mark Stanhope, the inspecting officer.

Henry is the son of Libba Woodhouse and the late Robert "Woody" Woodhouse, a loveable waterfront character known to many us in Falmouth, who died in 1987 aged 39.

Henry, who won the coveted Charnock Trophy (Shooting Medal) for best marksman in 818 Troop, has been drafted to 40 Commando in Taunton. He joined the Royal Navy in 1999, undergoing initial training at HMS Raleigh and HMS Dryad where he completed an Operators Mechanic (Air Warfare) course.

Drafted to the Duke Class frigate HMS Marlborough Henry visited the Middle East and the United States during the ship's deployment. Back in the UK he transferred to the Royal Marines for the 30 week gruelling training course in Devon.

On March 7, 1918, King George V visited the Royal Marines Depot at Deal in Kent to inspect Royal Marines squads. To mark his visit the King directed that the senior recruit squad in Royal Marines training would in future be known as the King's Squad.

Henry's father' affectionately known as "Woody", was a former Falmouth lifeboatman, fisherman and yachtsman. When he died a friend said: "Woody was that rare phenomenon, a man with no enemies and many, many friends."