Ian Grant served for 32 years as a Royal Marines officer and subsequently became their Corps Secretary for just under 10 years.  The latter post led to him serving as a Trustee/Director on several charity boards. 

Ian joined the Royal Marines in 1973 and, after completion of Commando training, undertook a variety of junior appointments including operations in Northern Ireland in 1975 and the recapture of South Georgia during the 1982 Falklands War.  Specialising as a Landing Craft Officer, he gained his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in HMS HERMES.  Other appointments included commanding a fast patrol boat on loan service in Brunei, and 3 Raiding Squadron RM on anti-illegal immigrant operations in Hong Kong.

In 1989, he attended the Army Staff Course and subsequently held a number of staff appointments including on the Fleet Operations Staff at Northwood and in amphibious capability development at HQRM and then Fleet HQ.  He commanded 539 Assault Squadron RM from 1994 to 1996 and also served for two years on the Directing Staff of the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College.  From 1990 to 1994, he was also the Assistant RM Equerry to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. 

In 2006, Ian became the RM Corps Secretary responsible, inter alia, for Corps charities.  This was also when he became a Trustee of the RN&RM Children’s Fund (now the NCC). Ian retired on his 60th birthday in Sep 2015.  He is married to Jean and lives in Hampshire.