Hero of the Month: LNN Thomas Bovington (1986 - 2016)
LNN Thomas Bovington was a hugely devoted father and husband with a passion for the outdoors. His love of adventure and desire to help people led to him to join the Royal Navy aged 24, where he became Leading Naval Nurse.
On the 9th of September 2016, Tom died very suddenly of a genetic heart condition. He was 29 years old. His children, Elizabeth and Isabelle, were just two and 11-months.
LNN Thomas Bovington and his eldest daughter, Elizabeth
Tom was a collector of friends. So many people attended his funeral that there was only standing room,” says Vicky, Tom’s wife. “He was a personality that liked to be out of the house and climbing a mountain rather than on the sofa watching a film. He enjoyed kayaking and sailing and running – he completed two marathons. We’ve got a very close-knit group of friends from university who all still come by and go on adventures with the girls, taking them out climbing and swimming and things like that. All the things Tom used to love doing with them.”
After leaving university, Tom became an outdoor activity instructor, but his passion had always been for the Navy. As a child, he was part of the cadets, and during his studies was a member of the University Royal Navy Unit (URNU). At 24 years old, he decided to combine this passion with his desire to help people by becoming a nurse in the Royal Navy. He excelled, and was soon appointed to the rank of Leading Naval Nurse.
“He could turn his hand to anything,” says Vicky. “He achieved so much in the time he was given. He loved his job as a Naval Nurse and just wanted to help people.”
Tom holding baby Isabelle
Of Tom’s many achievements, however, he was always most proud of his two young children, Elizabeth and Isabelle.
“He loved spending time with them and was so proud to be their dad. He worked away during the week but spent all his time with them on weekends and was so besotted with everything they did, from their first smile to their first steps. One of my fondest memories of Tom was whenever he would take the girls swimming. He absolutely loved the water and was determined to show them how much fun it was. We would use the pool at the Royal Maritime Club in Portsmouth and were always lucky to find it empty. I can still see Tom now, splashing and playing with the girls. It always makes me smile. The girls and I often go wild swimming in a local river, paddleboarding and things like that. The adventure is still there. It’s in their genetics!”
Elizabeth, who is now eight years old, adds: “The last weekend Daddy was home, Mummy stayed at the house with Isabelle and me and Daddy went swimming. It was really fun.”
Tom helping Elizabeth feed a lamb
Their time together was cut tragically short when, during a game of Laser Quest with his brothers, Tom suddenly collapsed.
“He was given CPR, then the paramedics came, then a doctor who worked for nearly two hours, but they couldn’t save him. We didn’t find out until afterwards that he had something called Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition which effects the heart.”
However, even in the aftermath of Tom’s death, he was still helping people.
“What we’ve clung to is how many people Tom has saved since he died. By discovering his condition, we were able to look at his family and work out who else might have it. Tom has protected at least eight members of his family who have now been tested and found to have the same condition.”
LNN Thomas Bovington
Although Tom died when his children were young, the family still have lots of ways they remember and feel connected to him.
“Isabelle was too young when he died to have any memories of him,” says Vicky, “but we have lots of video, photos and recordings that she likes to remember him by. She’s constantly asking about what her daddy was like and things they did together. We speak about him often, and whenever our friends come around Tom always gets brought up.”
Elizabeth adds: “Sometimes they come over and we play games. I liked it when we played Pictionary and they drew Daddy climbing a lamppost after he had drunk too much adult orange juice.”
Tom and Elizabeth camping
Elizabeth and Isabelle joined Scotty’s Little Soldiers in 2017 and have been supported by the charity ever since, benefitting from Scotty Breaks, grants and access to one-to-one bereavement support. They have also attended a number of Christmas parties, where they were able to meet hundreds of bereaved military children who understand what they’ve been through.
“Scotty’s is a happy thing for the girls. These have not been an easy few years, and I know there will be tough times to come, but Scotty’s makes things that bit better. They understand our pain, but they also understand that even though our family has experienced this loss we can still laugh and smile and be thankful for what we do have. The events Scotty’s organise, the gifts they send, the breaks they provide – it all gives us a reason to smile and make some new happy memories together.”
“Scotty’s means a lot to me,” says Elizabeth, “because it shows lots of kids that even though you’ve lost someone you can still think about them and still be happy.”
Elizabeth and Isabelle
