Captain (soon to be Commodore) Richard Farrington CBE RN
I have just read in The Times that Captain Richard Farrington is to be promoted Commodore later this month. He will be remembered as Captain of HMS Nottingham when it went aground off Lord Howe Island in 2002, for which he was CM'd and Reprimanded. I just wanted to say I was delighted to see that he had been promoted as after the incident I twice attended his lecture on the circumstances of the stranding and the recovery of the ship. He was also guest speaker at a Trafalgar Night Dinner at Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Where does this connect with military aircrew you may ask - well it is because the aftermath of the grounding was an example of preparedness, courage (several of the crew were decorated for their bravery and resourcefulness in saving the ship), pre-planning and above all LEADERSHIP. So, I am delighted to read of Richard Farrington's promotion and I hope others will join Mrs W and me in wishing him well in his new appointment.