This Is Your Life: David Wallace

David WALLACE (1956-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - David Wallace, Royal Navy Search and Rescue Aircrewman, was surprised by Michael Aspel while undertaking a paramedics course in Dawlish, Devon.

David, who was born in Glasgow and grew up in Fyfe, joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15 as a junior engineering mechanic at Portsmouth before, in 1978, becoming a search and rescue aircrewman diver based at Portland in Dorset.

In a 25-year career, he helped save over 235 lives, won the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Greek Nautical Medal for Bravery, in addition to being awarded the George Medal for saving 40 lives from the sinking Pakistani freighter MV Murree in October 1989.

"I don't believe this! I knew you snakes were up to something!"

programme details...

Edition No: 898
Subject No: 882
Broadcast date: Wed 7 Dec 1994
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Thu 27 Oct 1994
Venue: RNAS Culdrose
Series: 35
Edition: 6
Code name: Air

on the guest list...

Nigel Toms
two unnamed crew members
Carol - wife
Natalie - daughter
Douglas - son
Stephen Wright
Abdul Ateek
Geena - sister
Betty - mother
Carl Taylor
Robert Pheasant
Shane Matthews
Michael Matthews
John Spencer
Larry Slater
Paul Mason
Nicky Morris
Jerry Grayson
Capt Peter Fish
Irfan Jaffrey

production team...

Researcher: Elizabeth Ross
Writer: Roy Bottomley
Director: Brian Klein
Associate Producer: John Graham
Executive Producer: Peter Estall
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Life Savers

heroes of the emergency services

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Larry Slater

Screenshots of David Wallace This Is Your Life

Navy News article: David Wallace This Is Your Life

Navy News February 1995

Life story

Millions tuned in to see CPOACMN(D) Dave Wallace receive the famous This Is Your Life red book from Michael Aspel.

The surprise was sprung in one of 771 NAS's Sea King helicopters and the programme was recorded at RN air station Culdrose.

Decorated

A veteran of over 350 rescues - during which he has saved the lives of more than 230 people, 12 cows, five sheep and a dog - Dave is one of the Service’s most decorated divers.

His wife, Carol, an ex-Wren, and the couple’s children, Natalie and Douglas, were on hand to share the celebrations.

Flown in from Pakistan to add their tribute were the Master and First Mate of the MV Muree - the ship from which Dave helped to rescue 40 men, women and children, earning the George Medal in the process. Other guests included naval colleagues, two of whom have won a red book of their own.

Series 35 subjects