Former town mayor who liked to be called commander confesses to never serving in Royal Navy.
A FORMER town mayor who liked to be called "Commander" yesterday confessed he has never served in the Royal Navy.
John Roberts, 80, turned up at civic events and Remembrance Day parades in a smart naval uniform and an impressive collection of medals.
During his time as mayor of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, he was referred to as Commander John Roberts RNR RD (Royal Navy Reserves Reserve Decoration).
But questions were raised by locals in the seafaring town, where people spotted "discrepancies" in his uniform and medals.
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The Ministry of Defence confirmed they had no record of Mr Roberts, who did serve in the merchant navy.
Mr Roberts yesterday said he became known as "Commander" in the town and the title stuck.
He said: "I would like to say that I was not, as some people have been led to believe, in the Royal Navy.
"Confusion arose when I became in command of the British Red Cross in Pembrokeshire, from 1987 to 1992.
"People started referring to me as Commander Roberts in circumstances which I was not a part of."
Mr Roberts yesterday refused to disclose where his naval uniform and medals had come from.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: "We have no record of this individual ever having served in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines."
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