HE has gone from travelling the world by submarine to travelling Scotland ensuring railway safety is first class.

Sean Murphy joined the forces at 16 and worked for the Army and then the Navy with an impressive career as a submariner.

Now, aged 50, Sean works for ScotRail as a Field Trainer, ensuring the health and safety of his colleagues.

But his new job is a world away from his military career, which saw him based or seeing action in the Falklands, Bahrain, Muscat, Afghanistan, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and Egypt - among others.

The dad of three boys signed up to the Army at the age of 16 but a year later joined the Navy and became an IT specialist, working on submarines.

At one point in his career he was the number three on the nuclear firing signal chain - which meant that if it came time to set off Britian's nuclear weapons, Sean would have been involved.

After a full career, Sean's time to leave came six years ago and adjusting to civilian life was not easy.

He said: "The Navy gives you all the opportunities - and I took full advantage. I completed my degree in the Navy and many other qualifications.

"So it was a wrench to leave. From my house you can walk to the south gate of Faslane so to sit every morning and see all my friends who I had worked with for 20 years walk past my house and not join them, it was the loneliest time of my life."

Sean joined ScotRail after applying to ScotRail as a train cleaner, a job he describes as "immensely satisfying".

He said: "I needed to work and the one thing the Navy teaches you is that you are no better than anyone else, you are no worse than anyone else - we are all the same.

"To have a dirty train come in and clean it so that you would buy a ticket to go on - that is immensely satisfying."

While working in this job, Sean put himself through health and safety training and when the Field Trainer job came up he was a shoo-in.

Now he travels all over Scotland ensuring staff are safe at their work.

Sean, who is heavily involved in charity work and runs a veteran's breakfast club, is backing this year's Poppy Appeal.

Last year was the first that the ScotRail Alliance supported the Poppyscotland campaign nationally, raising £57,892.49 for Poppyscotland.

This year collection tins will be placed at all staffed stations, and poppies will be for sale at all ScotRail booking offices.

Sean said: "The purpose of the poppy is not just remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It is not those who fell who need the money - they are dead.

"Those who are alive need support, need a little lift in life.

"Wearing the poppy is an act of respect but it also helps make sure all those who served get the help they need.

"Having the Scottish Poppy Appeal raise funds, which are desperately, severely needed, is very important.

"When you go to any memorial and see people wearing a poppy, that's fantastic.

"Even though you may not have someone in your direct family, everyone knows someone who has served."

He added: "The British Armed Forces are an international affair and I served with people from New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica, South Africa, and I wouldn't swap any of them for all the tea in China.

"So when they leave and fall foul of debt or drink or drugs or mental health problems, it is important they have services to pick them back up.

"A lot of veterans are very proud, they are used to being self-sufficient and don't ask for help.

"They need this support."