ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Our handsome looking, prolific author Gilbert Jackman, is a formidable and diversely talented professional, who has s acquired an eclectic variety of skills and experience over the years, serving in the Royal Marines (SNCO), NZ SAS (SNCO), NZ Police (D/SGT), and as Chief Security and Training Officer on cruise ships (3 Rings).  Gilbert has written more than  30 books, and three Children’s stories, and having more planned on his extensive agenda.  We are proud to have him on board.

 

A Non-smoker, and in pursuit of maintaining a healthful active lifestyle, our Author lives in the UK, and can travel anywhere at short notice and have spent a lifetime being away from home on duty.

He was relocated to the UK from France in 2011.

He holds a British (EEC) and New Zealand (Australian) citizenship and passports, and South African permanent residence.   Gil has embarked upon an active writing career and has many exciting books published.  Gil writes from what he ‘knows’, and has based much of his literary works on a lifetime of personal experiences, and exciting professional posts which carried along with it a great measure of responsibility on his shoulders.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

As Chief Security/Training Officer I hold the following qualifications appertaining to ship work, as laid down by the latest IMO and STCW regulations.  I have instructed weekly in:  ISPS Training, Drug Awareness, Harassment, Bomb Searches, and Anti-Piracy.  These are apart from military and police training, experience and skills.

The most important qualifications are underlined:

 

PAIE                 Pre-Departure Safety Training                                                       NoCert Issued 95

SSOT                Shipboard and Safety Orientation Training                               NoCert Issued 95

IPSA                 Refresher Course in security training                                                 25:05:95

STCW               Certified Lifeboat man                                                                              04:11:96

AFFT                Advanced Fire Fighting Training                                                            12:11:97

CPRE (3)           Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation                                                      16:04:98

Rural/Metro      Hazardous Material Awareness & Initial Response                  15:04:98

Rural/Metro  Gen Fire Fighting Tactics to Mobile Group Standard                  16:04:98

Rural/Metro  Adult CPR – American Red Cross                                                        16:04:98

PAIE                 Safety Course for Pers Nom to Assist Pax in Emergency            03:04:98

STAR Ctr    Instructor, Supervisor and Assessor Qualification Course             27:03:98

Comp.             Computer Skills Somerset County Training                                       06:10:98

SABRE             Use and Wearing of Breathing Apparatus                                         01:08:99

SABRE              Servicing and Maintenance of Breathing Apparatus                     02:08:99

DNV                   Paxtrim Crowd Management                                                                  31:10:99

DNV                   Paxtrim Crisis Management                                                                    01:10:99

DNV                   Paxtrim Trainers Course                                                                          03:10:99

NAHS               Security Course                                                                                              18:02:00

St John             First Aid at Work                                                                                           03:03:00

FPTC                 Fire Training Course                                                                                    14:03:00

NCL                    Illegal Drugs Lecture Certificate                                                             01:04:02

MARPOL           Hazardous & Solid Waste Management                                             24:01:03

STAR Ctr           Crowd Management and Human Behaviour Course                    02:14:03

ISPFSC              Crew Safety and Security Awareness Training                                 04:09:04

ISPS                  Training for Ships Security Officers                                                       13:07:05

AMS – CG        Drug & Alcohol Specimen Collection Training                                   13:07:06

A.G.S.              Screener Training Program

A-V3                Crowd Management

Passenger Safety

Crisis Management and Human Behaviour                                             13:05:08

HAL                  Responsible Service of Alcohol                                                                 16:10:08

HAL                  Norovirus on Board: Gangway                                                                  16:10:08

HAL                  Environmental Management System Basics                                        16:10:08

HAL                  Marine Fire Fighting                                                                                      17:10:08

HAL                  Environmental Management System                                                      26:10:08

HAL                  Security Training Level 2                                                                              15:10:08

HAL                  Security Training Level 2 – Refresher                                                     31:03:09

HAL                  Ships Security Officer – Level 4 Training                                               2009

V.Ships      VGP (Vessel General Permit) – Environmental Protection Agency  2011

The Staff Captain, among his many duties, usually holds the designation of Ship Security Officer but there have been recent movements to change this to the Chief of Security, as the vessel’s security is after all his main priority.  With this in mind I qualified as SSO in 2009.

SHIPS SERVED ON

Independent:                                              CRUCCERO EXPRESS                                    1995

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line:              MONARCH OF THE SEAS  )

SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS (twice)          )

SONG OF AMERICA                                                                                                                  1995-1998

MAJESTY OF THE SEAS                              )

RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS                          )

Celebrity:                                                       ZENITH (as Art Director)                             1998

Orient Cruise Line:                                    MARCO POLO  (6months)                            1999

Renaissance Cruise Line:                        RENAISSANCE 6 (5 months)                      2000/1

RENAISSANCE 3 (6 months)                                                                                                 2001

Holland America Line:                             VOLENDAM                                                        2001/2

Norwegian Cruise Line:                           NORWEGIAN SUN (4 contracts)              2002/3

NORWEGIAN MAJESTY (5 contracts)                                                                              2004/7

NORWEGIAN SPIRIT (6 Contracts)        2007/8

Holland America Line:                             MAASDAM                                                           2008

MAASDAM                                                           2009

Silver Sea                                                       WHISPER                                                             2011

 

DUTIES INCLUDED:

Crew discipline and drug enforcement.

Investigations into complaints ranging from theft to rape and murder.

Investigation of all accidents of crew and passengers.

Assisting Legal & Claims Department in preparation and depositions for litigation.  Liaison with shore side police and customs.

Supervision of security staff, placement and supervision of gangways.

Compiling and producing all relevant reports.

Implementing and conducting training of crew in terrorism/bomb threats, drug awareness training, ISPS awareness training, etc.

Also Diving Officer and sometime leader of Mobile Fire Team.

Deck & Engine 3 stripe Officer designation.

 

LOCATIONS:

Familiar with most ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, the USA and French Polynesia, and have visited many more.

 

POLICE:

Spent short time in 1 Ranger Squadron (NZ SAS) before Vietnam finished – then 10 years in the New Zealand Police, served in the Crime Control Unit, also responsible for Diplomatic Protection.  Trained as Hostage Negotiator, Firearms and Physical Training Instructor, Search and Rescue, sometime Prosecutor in magistrates’ court.  Personal protection to PM of NZ in Auckland venues.  Rank of Det/Sgt.  Attended Auckland University – 2 years law then returned UK.

 

ROYAL MARINES:

15 years in the Royal Marines served as Reconnaissance Troop Leader (Recce courses, sniper, parachuting and climbing).  Commando Instructor, Marksman on all weapons.  Navy Diver, Mixtures and Re-breathing qualifications, and all SBS diving qualifications.  Military guarding and anti-terrorist deployment.  Served on ships as well as Commando units (40, 41, 45 Commandos) – 2 1/2 years on HMS Ursa, also HMS Fearless and HMS Bulwark with Commando groups as SNCO.  Saw combat in Cyprus, Aden and Northern Ireland.  Rank of SNCO.

 

HEALTH AND FITNESS:

Hold Dip. CRS (Diploma of the Council for Recreation and Sport), and Senior Instructor for NABBA (National Amateur Bodybuilding Association).  Personal trainer.  Ran own health studio for eight years.

 

OTHER SKILLS/INTERESTS:

Computer literate, diving, skiing, published author, rider (horses and motorbikes), weight training.

 

SOCIETIES/ASSOCIATIONS:

Member of International Police Association, Society of Authors, National Amateur Bodybuilding Association, Sergeants Mess Commando Training Centre, Auckland University Club, Royal British Legion, Bergerac branch of RNA.

 

Non-smoker,  live in the UK, can travel anywhere at short notice and have spent a lifetime being away from home on duty.

Relocated to the UK from France in 2011.

I hold British (EEC) and New Zealand (Australian) citizenship and passports, and South African permanent residence.  Have US visas B1B2 and R C1/D.

Hold recent medical, X-ray and Yellow Fever.

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

 

Thomas Craven is a snappy dresser, art school graduate and antique dealer. He is also a faker and forger, a coward, and an all round detestable person. He is in partnership with Charlie Feathers, also crooked, with whom he once shared a cell. Their two employees are Ray, a middle-aged craftsman, and Cassius, a black rugby player in his early twenties.
The mysterious Mr. Deville contacts their firm and an agreement is made, so Craven and company begin collecting artifacts for the new customer.
The attractive Amanda Hastings and her father are on the trail of Deville, their journey taking them through time and space. Now she is forced to obtain the help of someone she detests, Thomas Craven. Together they follow events to their conclusions, and the terrible purpose Deville plans for two civilizations.
Somehow, Craven turns out to be the unlikely hero in the end.

 

Gil Jackman was born in Liverpool, England, became Architectural Draughtsman, then joined the Royal Marine Commandos and saw action in Cyprus, Aden and Northern Ireland. Wounded twice, Jackman left the Royal Marines as a SNCO and went to New Zealand, where he joined the NZ SAS and became a SNCO. After Vietnam Gil joined the NZ Police, serving as a Det/Sgt. He then returned to the UK and opened a gym – teaching bodybuilding, karate and general fitness. Later, he found a position on cruise ships as Chief of Security, serving for sixteen years. Besides the UK, Jackman has lived in NZ, France and South Africa.

 

BOOKS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLICATION IN 2016 BY  LANG PUBLISHING, NEW ZEALAND ARE:-

“FORGOTTEN WARS AND UNSUNG HEROES” 

“BURDEN OF DAYS” 

“LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD”