Jump to content

Ronald Forrest

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Ronald Forrest
Born(1923-01-11)11 January 1923
Died25 March 2005(2005-03-25) (aged 82)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1940–1975
RankRear Admiral
CommandsHMS London (1970–72)
HMS Teazer (1956–58)
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Mentioned in dispatches

Rear Admiral Sir Ronald Stephen Forrest, KCVO, JP, DL (11 January 1923 – 25 March 2005) was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Defence Services Secretary from 1972 to 1975.[1]

[edit]

Educated at Belhaven Hill School and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Forrest joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and saw action in the Second World War.[2] He became Director of Seaman Officer Appointments at the Ministry of Defence in 1968, Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMS London in 1970 and Defence Services Secretary in 1972 before retiring in 1975.[2]

In retirement he became Commander of the St John Ambulance in Devon.[2]

Subsequently, he led the effort to purchase land for the Westpoint Arena near Exeter, in order to host the Devon County Show. He escorted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Show in 1995, by which time the main ring had been named the Forrest Ring.

Family

[edit]

In 1947 he married Patricia Russell; they had two sons and one daughter.[2] Following the death of his first wife, he married June Perks (née Weaver).[2] Lady Forrest died in 2012.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Forrest, Rear-Adm. Sir Ronald (Stephen)". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 16 March 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c d e Debrett's People of Today 1994
  3. ^ Family notices
Military offices
Preceded by Defence Services Secretary
1972–1975
Succeeded by