That's a shame. Sounds like he was a great character . RIP.
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That's a shame. Sounds like he was a great character . RIP.
Sad to report that S/M Geoff Fleming a member of Bolton RNA crossed the bar yesterday, Geoff was a Mechanician in the RN in the 60s and 70s and one of his ships was the Belfast which has featured on the BBC this morning. RIP Shipmate watch done. We will miss you and your very dry sense of humour.
RIP Geoff, Watch done.
Very sad indeed.rip
It's Geoff's funeral on the 21/6/19, we are giving him a good send off, Standard, Guard of Honour etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by loftysmudge
RIP Geoff, find calm seas and fair winds.Quote:
Originally Posted by loftysmudge
Very sorry to hear that my old Skipper from HMS Birmingham Sir John Kerr 'crossed the bar' on the 2nd Dec 2019 aged 82, he was an excellent Captain who was pleasure to serve under, it was no surprise to anyone who knew him that he went to the top of the tree.
Admiral Sir John Kerr GCB DL died peacefully at Cartmel Grange Nursing Home after a period of declining health.
Born in 1937 in Sale, Cheshire, the son of a cotton mill manager, and attending the local grammar school, he set his heart on going to sea at a young age and joined the Navy aged 16.
After passing out of naval college at Dartmouth as top of his year with multiple awards, his career followed a swift upward trajectory.
By the age of 34 he was commanding his first large ship, the frigate HMS Achilles.
He later commanded other ships and flotillas, including the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Birmingham and most notably HMS Illustrious, at the time the newest aircraft carrier in the fleet, and was heavily involved in the various Gulf conflicts.
Strong willed, with a razor-sharp intellect and an independent streak but always humble, Sir John took quiet satisfaction in his achievements.
He especially loved to break expectations, and notably sailed HMS Illustrious under the road and rail bridges of the Firth of Forth after being told it could not be done.
It was the first time for a ship of this size, needing exactly the right timing of the tide to ensure one metre clearance beneath the keel and one metre above the top of the mast for the ship to fit under the bridge.
Sir John's senior roles in the navy included being Flag Officer, Flotilla One in charge of taking the leading flotilla of naval ships around the world, chief of defence intelligence and vice chair of the Government’s Joint Intelligence Committee, which brought together the Heads of MI6, MI5 etc in the late 1980s/early 1990s, dealing with the break-up of the Soviet Union and the first Gulf War.
Later in his career, he was Commander in Chief Naval Home Command, in charge of naval bases, training establishments, and reserves.
After retiring from the navy, he took on leadership roles with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Lancaster and Manchester Universities, the Lake District National Park Authority and the Bett Review, which reshaped the Armed Forces.
His family said his roles in both the Navy and, later, in civilian life showed his reforming zeal and his drive to challenge the status quo.
From his early days, he loved exploring the hills of North West England, and it was through his love of sailing that he met his wife Anne Kerr, with whom he had three sons.
The couple settled near Kirkby Lonsdale and spent the remaining 25 years of their life there and his final wish was to be buried in the town.
RIP Sir.
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Sad news I was POSTD of the SOM when he was Cincnavhome. Had many a great lamp swinging session with him in the Green Parrot the staff bar at Admiralty House on a Friday Afternoon. Will always be remembered for his wife Anne, great name for an Admirals Wife Anne Kerr and his black lab Bosun complete with ID card attached to his collar.
RIP Sir
RIP Sir. Our paths never crossed in the RN.
Very sad indeed. RIP