I dislike knocking people, particularly someone who has done a job I could never have done, and who has served with distinction in a difficult war.
BUT, the problem here is that Sharkey Ward is to many people the public face of the RN past - its no wonder the RN has a bit of an image problem at times when people keep on bleating about the evil RAF conspiracy and so on. Its very dull, very boring and about as accurate as RAF bombing in WW2
But seriously though, I'm left with the very strong impression that he is no longer taken seriously in Whitehall (the rumour whispered to me was he is now PNG and his long rambling missives no longer get replied to) and that he is now one of those sad individuals dreaming of a brighter past, who is now doing serious damage to the future credibility of the Service he professes to love.