"Rear Admiral Gwyn Pritchard CB. Crossed the Bar June 19th.2012 Aged 88yrs

Volunteered 1942 as 'Hostilities Only' Ordinary Seaman he rose to Rear Admiral completing almost 40 years in the RN. As an Ordinary Seaman he served two years in HMS Farndale at the invasions into North Africa, Sicily and Italy and was awarded a commission as a temporary sub-Lt RNVR in 1944; he then served in the western and northern Atlantic including a Russian convoy and at the end of the war in Europe he was Gunnery Officer in HMS Zealous. Transferred to extended service commission in the RN as lieutenant whilst at anti-submarine school in Londonderry 1946, his first command was MTB 2017 then two years with the FAA at HMS Gamecock he then joined Indomitable as aircraft control room officer. 1952 he commanded Motor Minesweeper 1786 based in Hong Kong during the Korean War and was awarded a permanent commission. Upon returning to the UK he was executive officer of HMS Brocklesby, promoted to lieutenant commander and instructed at the leadership school at Corsham then as second-in-command of HMS Contest; this included time off Iceland during the first 'fish war'.

Promoted commander 1959 he commanded HMS Cavalier in the Far East until December 1961 then assistant captain of HMNB Portsmouth and staff of Flag Officer second in command of the Home Fleet. 1966 he joined HMS Ark Royal as executive officer and second in command on Beira patrol and in the Far East and commanded HMS Decoy for post refit trials; selected for captain he then spent two years on the staff of defence intelligence (Soviet Navy section). 1969-72 he was Captain Frigate Squadron and in command of HMS Phoebe then as CO of HMS Charybdis. Director Naval Operations and Trade at the Admiralty 1973 he then transformed HMS Dryad from the School of Navigation into the School of Maritime Operations. He became Rear Admiral in 1976 and was Flag Officer Sea Training at Portland for two years overseeing the work-up of newly commissioned ships and testing their readiness to join the fleet including the ultimate test known as the 'Thursday war'. His final appointment was as Flag Officer Gibraltar and NATO Commander Gibraltar Mediterranean then transferred to the retired list 1981 having been appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath. A popular CO and active member of HMS Cavalier Association; president of the Weymouth Naval Association from 1981 until illness forced him to step down; dedicated president of the Bride Valley branch of the British Legion; chairman and president in turn of the Dorset branch of SSAFA and was also on its National Council; and each year he was a volunteer collector for the Mission to Seamen.

Married to Tess in April 1975 whilst C.O. of HMS Dryad,and