Suffolk company praised for role it plays in naval defence

Roland Group - which is based in Wickham Market - makes cables which are used on Royal Navy vessels as well as products for the Ministry of Defence.

Commodore Robert Bellfield CBE was shown around the plant by company directors Ben Emerson and Jonathan Paul.

As well as being Naval Regional Commander, the commodore - an ex-Framlingham College pupil - is also deputy Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk.

Roland Group is the parent company for Roland Plastics and Electronic Terminations and employs 25 staff.

The company also makes military munitions packaging, transport and stowage, outdoor surfaces and innovative lighting products.

Cdre Bellfield joined Dartmouth Royal Naval College in 1983 but returned to live in Suffolk.

He praised the firm and its staff for their contribution to the Royal Naval and defence operations in the UK.

"I am pleased to support and recognise local businesses who contribute to the Royal Navy’s operational capability – and clearly, Roland Group is playing its part in that," he said.

"The company’s staff are to be applauded for their work, and I was fascinated by the enormous portfolio of work being carried out by such an innovative Suffolk business.

"It was a pleasure to meet the team and I look forward to seeing more exciting work from them in the future.”

Mr Emerson said they felt "privileged" and "thrilled" at the visit, and the positive feedback they received.

"As a business which had such humble family-run beginnings in Suffolk, we are extremely proud of our reach and our operational capability, and we look forward to being able to share more updates with Cdre Bellfield in the months to come," he said.