A CLEANER at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has chanced upon an old military ID card presumed to be missing for 45 years.

Morwenna Philpott was dusting an obscure ledge, high on a wall between two large metal air vents downstairs in the station’s gym, when the laminated card fell to the floor.

Dated and stamped 1981, the Royal Navy identity card features a photograph and details of a Lieutenant PC O’Brien, born in 1953.

Ms Philpott, who works for company ESS and was supervising a team during a deep-clean of the air station’s sports centre, said: “I was dusting the high-level windows when I saw a clump of leaves that must have blown in. I was bringing them down on the floor and when I went to clean them up, I found this card.

“It’s so strange to think it must have been there all this time. I wasn’t even born in 1981 – isn’t that crazy? I wonder if anyone knows him?

“I love the fact it’s fastened with an old safety pin too. It’s a treasure. I feel like it should be in a museum.”

Built in 1975 and known as the Seahawk Centre, the building was the heart of the living accommodation for the base at Helston. The downstairs featured the men-only Tavern Bar, a lounge bar and dance floor, TV room and an ‘automat’ with food vending machines.

The magazine Navy News said the new buildings made RNAS Culdrose one of the most modern military airfields in the country. Today, the downstairs is used as an extensive 24-hour gym, while the sports centre remains in use in the upper levels.

RNAS Culdrose has no contact with card’s owner, who must have retired many years ago. How the card came to be lost or why it was on the ledge remains a mystery.