There was another bump in the road that could have caused a problem with my joining the Royal Navy.
It turns out that I had been using my stepfather’s surname since he married my mother but my birth certificate had retained the name of my birth father. I guess I had not been adopted so my surname from birth had not been changed. I had simple been registered at kindergarten, primary, secondary schools etc. with my stepfather’s surname. Obviously no proof was required.
There was also another hiccup on the road. When my grandparents decided my birth father was not the one for their daughter he was given his marching orders and mother and me stayed with her parents. My birth father took umbrage at this situation and “kidnapped” me from the the guest house and my mothers’ care.
This was somewhat short lived as he was apprehended by the police at a railway station with me in tow and I was returned to the fold. However, action was to taken to protect me in the future and I was made a “Ward of Court”
“What does being a Ward of Court mean?
What is Wardship? Wardship is the name that is given to Court Proceedings where a child is made a ‘Ward of Court’. This means that the High Court have the ultimate guardianship of the child to ensure their safety and protection. A child cannot be removed from England and Wales without the permission of the Court.”
So, joining the Royal Navy required the permission of the High Court of England which was duly granted. In addition I had to officially change my name to my stepfather’s surname from the name on my birth certificate. Apparently I was given the option to retain my birth fathers surname or change it to my stepfathers and the surname I had used since I was an infant.
I changed to my stepfather’s surname by a process called
“Deed Poll” A
deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. You can change any part of your name, add or remove names and hyphens, or change spelling.
All the above duly completed and I was free to join the RN (Royal Navy)!
