Richard Thomas (Royal Navy officer)

For the British Admiral commanding the Pacific Station, see Richard Darton Thomas.
Sir Richard Thomas
Birth name William Richard Scott Thomas
Born 22 March 1932
Died 13 December 1998(1998-12-13) (aged 66)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Years of service 1951–1992
Rank Admiral
Commands held HMS Troubridge
HMS Fearless
Battles/wars Cod Wars
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Admiral Sir William Richard Scott Thomas KCB KCVO OBE (22 March 1932 – 13 December 1998) was the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (or simply Black Rod) in the British Parliament's House of Lords from January 1992 to 8 May 1995.[1]

Naval career

Educated at Downside School, Thomas joined the Navy in 1951.[2] He was given command of the destroyer HMS Troubridge in 1966.[2] He went on to be Staff Officer Operations to the Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland and saw action in the Second Cod War in 1972.[2] Promoted to Captain, he took part in Polaris development at the Ministry of Defence before being given command of the assault ship HMS Fearless.[2] He went on to be Director of Seaman Officers' Appointments in 1982, Naval Secretary in 1983 and Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1985.[2] Promoted to Vice Admiral, he became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic at Norfolk, Virginia in 1987 and the UK Military Representative to NATO from 1989 to 1992, when he retired from the Royal Navy.[2]

In retirement he became Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.[2] Amongst other honours, he was awarded a papal knighthood in the Order of Pope Pius IX.[2]

Family

Thomas was the son of Mary Hilda Bertha "Maimie" (née Hemelryk) and Welsh-born William Scott Thomas.[3] In 1959, he married Paddy Cullinan; they had 8 children.[2] He was the uncle of actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and Serena Scott Thomas (the "Scott" portion of their last names coming from another British naval officer, Capt. Robert F. Scott, the ill fated explorer of the South Pole).[4]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Richard Fitch
Naval Secretary
1983–1985
Succeeded by
Roger Dimmock
Preceded by
Sir Geoffrey Dalton
Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
1987–1989
Succeeded by
Sir James Weatherall
Preceded by
Sir Michael Knight
UK Military Representative to NATO
1989–1992
Succeeded by
Sir Edward Jones
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir John Gingell
Black Rod
1992–1995
Succeeded by
Sir Edward Jones
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