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Cleaner finds 45-year-old naval identity card

Lisa YoungCornwall
News imageRoyal Navy Morwenna Philpott is smiling as she holds the identity card up to the camera as she strands in the gym. She has long dark hair and is wearing a black top. The card has a head and shoulders shot in black and white photo of a man wearing a white shirt, dark jumper and tie. It is labelled ROYAL NAVY IDENTITY CARD and in biro is written: O'Brien, PC, Lieutenant, Date of Issue 16.9.81, Height 5'10". The date of birth is partly obscured and the service number is totally obscured. Royal Navy
Morwenna Philpott said she thought the identity card was like treasure

A cleaner at a naval air station has found a 45-year-old military identity card.

Morwenna Philpott was cleaning a high window ledge in the the gym at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose, in Helston in Cornwall, when the laminated card fell to the floor.

Dated and stamped 1981, the Royal Navy identity card featured a photograph and details of a Lt PC O'Brien, showing he was born in 1953.

Philpott said: "It's a treasure. I feel like it should be in a museum or something."

News imageRoyal Navy The identity card has a head and shoulders shot in black and white photo of a man wearing a white shirt, dark jumper and tie. It is labelled ROYAL NAVY IDENTITY CARD and in biro is written: O'Brien, PC, Lieutenant, Date of Issue 16.9.81, Height 5'10". The date of birth and the service number is redacted. The card is encased in plastic and has a safety pin on the top right hand corner.Royal Navy
The Royal Navy identity card featured a photograph and details of a Lt PC O'Brien

She said: "It's so strange to think it must have been there all this time – it has the date 1981... I think it's incredible.

"Did he get into trouble because he lost it? Was that a thing back then, like it is today if you lose your ID card? I wonder if anyone knows him?" she asked.

Built in 1975, the Seahawk Centre was the heart of the living accommodation for the base.

At the time, the downstairs featured a lounge bar and dance floor, TV room and an "automat" - a restaurant where food and drink were served through a vending machine.

Pictures of the club featured in the magazine Navy News in 1975, which said the new buildings made RNAS Culdrose one of the most modern military airfields in the country.

Today, the downstairs is used as a 24-hour gym, while the sports centre remains in use in the upper levels.

News imageRoyal Navy/Navy News A grainy photo in Navy News which shows the Seahawk Club in 1975. There is a long bar along the back wall which three men are leaning against. There are low coffee tables with cushioned armchairs. In the foreground there are two women and two men in sailor suits sitting with drinks in front of them. There is a caption which begins: Taking it easy in the Seahawk Club and goes on to describe the club.Royal Navy/Navy News
Navy News said the new buildings had made RNAS Culdrose one of the most modern military airfields in the country in 1975

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