'Boom!': Commando chef awarded MBE for health promotion

A Royal Marine chef has been recognised by the Queen for promoting a healthy lifestyle to his online following.

Colour Sergeant Mike Beaton from Torquay was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List – delayed from June to recognise many who have been involved in the fight against the coronavirus.

The chef is one of a large number of military personnel to have been included in this year’s list, with 22 men and women from the Navy and Royal Marines making the final cut.

CSgt Beaton heads the Royal Marines Educational Awareness Team (EAT), which has toured the UK to give potential recruits an insight into service and corps life.

The Navy credits EAT with positive recruitment results, particularly within Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups (BAME).

Throughout the pandemic, CSgt Beaton has entertained a growing Twitter following with energetic online cooking lessons.

With his trademark catchphrase, “Boom!”, the Royal Marine of 34 years has attracted thousands of views with dish tutorials such as ‘Chicken Curry in a Hurry’.

“Wow. It’s unbelievable. From leaving school with no education to being on Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours List and being awarded the MBE. I can’t really believe it!” said the marine, who goes by @CommandoChef online.

“What a privilege and what a privilege to work with young people as a serving Royal Marine – Boom!

 “Then we went into lockdown and the Commando Chef was born getting the word out there through social media from my kitchen in Torquay.”

Fast and simple recipe walkthroughs are filmed in one take, according to CSgt Beaton, “because life is real”.

Cover image: CSgt Mike Beaton (Picture: Royal Navy).