Personality profile
have to live in the same metal box, 24 hours a day. Plus, the obvious fact that sailors put themselves in harm’s way.
“It’s a 24 hours a day, 364 days a year operation and one of the responsibilities of this job is to be here as much as possible.”
“But while the staff and volunteers are here, boy, do they do a good job and show endless dedication and love for this place.” Four years ago, Sir David faced the daunting world away from his beloved Royal Navy. He says: “For some people, leaving the armed forces can be a cause for celebration but for me, aſter 36 years and rising through the privileged ranks, I found it really difficult to leave it all behind.
“What I did know was that, whatever I did,
it would have to be with people. My whole career had been dedicated to people.” Having been to Leeds Castle on a number of occasions in the offices of Naval Secretary and Second Sea Lord, he had caught the eye of the woman then in charge, Victoria Wallace. She was to become director general of the Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission and suggested Sir David throw his hat in the ring. He adds: “Of course, I had to apply for it like anyone else, so it was a great honour to get the job.”
A bachelor, he lives on the estate most of the week among the 300 full-time staff and 60-70 volunteers and 700,000 paying visitors plus wedding parties, golfers, glampers and the like.
He still retains a home – a “small cotage in a chocolate box village” - in Hampshire, which he returns to “about once a week to mow the lawn”. What passes as “going alongside” for shore leave these days, one guesses. Perhaps he dedicates himself to this job in the totally immersive way he was forced to as a senior Naval officer. Maybe it’s the only way he knows. He explains: “It’s a 24 hours a day, 364 days a year operation and one of the responsibilities of this job is to be here as much as possible.” Sir David keeps ties with the county because of his time in Portsmouth, charitable connections and a deputy lieutenancy of Hampshire. “It is something that I regret now. I should have liſted and shiſted when I had the chance and the longer I am here in Kent, the more I wish I had.” As a young sub lieutenant barely out of
training in 1982, he was sent aboard HMS Invincible to the Falkland Islands to fight for the right of the citizens there to be part of a British overseas territory in the face of the Argentine invaders.
Stationed on the aircraft carrier well offshore, the Navy’s job was to make sure the fighter planes took off and landed safely. In the distance were the audible sounds of batle and smoke rising from Stanley and Goose Green. Later, in Iraq, 162 long days without relent were lived with the constant, imminent threat of oblivion by Exocet.
Like all seasoned Naval officers, for which a cool head, nerves of flint and an unflappable nature are pre-requisites of service, he blatantly understates: “It was a long deployment without going alongside, and everybody got very tired on that trip.”
Sir David was born in London but, as a youngster, his family moved to Cheshire aſter his father moved jobs.
His dad had done National Service and was happy for him to join the Royal Navy in 1979, aged 18, but wanted his son to go to university.
Te Navy sponsored his law degree at Durham University, graduating in 1983, and was later called to the bar in 1988.
His legal knowledge was put to good use in early sea and shore appointments, including one role as a Fleet Legal Adviser.
He served aboard the aircraſt carrier HMS Invincible.
Sir David saw action in the Falklands War, Kosovo and the second Iraq conflict. In 1999, he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service for operations in Kosovo and Macedonia. Six years later, he took command of the HM Naval Base Portsmouth, earning recognition for inspirational leadership. He was also appointed Chief Naval Logistics Officer and Aide-de-Camp to the Queen.
By 2011, Sir David was appointed Rear Admiral, then Naval Secretary, Vice Admiral and, ultimately, and Second Sea Lord. Already a CBE, he was knighted in 2015.
Above: Sir David handing over to his successor as Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock in 2015
8 Mid Kent Living
But with a smirk and a twinkle of the eye, he adds: “But then you don’t go into this for the cocktail parties and a white uniform.” Today, away from his other life, Sir David cuts a trim and neat figure with shoes buffed to a mirror shine. Tere are few personal office adornments – no family pictures or knick- knacks – and his desk is spick and span. On a chair next to him is a companion of sorts, a teddy called Albert he has kept with him for 15 years. Albert sports a staff lanyard, but his presence has some relevance to his role.
Lord Browne of Madingley, a former chief executive of BP, had a similar soſt toy in his office and he took the view that for first-time visitors, it would mark him out as approachable.
In a workplace where the wages are “not great” but the job satisfaction is high, employees and volunteers speak fondly of him. Most are local and they clearly like being there and Sir David cites a 0.45% annual departure level as his proof.
He is unafraid to get stuck in. During one
late burst of cold winter weather and snow storms which made roads impassable, he wore a suit and wellies to open up the kitchens to get ready for paying guests’ breakfasts. Sir David tells with some pride of a chef who
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
