Richard Thomas (Royal Navy officer)

Admiral Sir William Richard Scott Thomas KCB KCVO OBE (22 March 1932 – 13 December 1998) was the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (or simply Black Rod) in the British Parliament's House of Lords from January 1992 to 8 May 1995.[1]

For the British Admiral commanding the Pacific Station, see Richard Darton Thomas.

Admiral Sir Richard Thomas KCB KCVO OBE
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
In office January 1992 – 8 May 1995
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Sir John Gingell
Succeeded by	Sir Edward Jones
Personal details
Born	William Richard Scott Thomas 22 March 1932 Rhyl, Wales
Died	13 December 1998(1998-12-13) (aged 66)
Spouse(s)	Paddy Cullinan
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	Royal Navy
Years of service	1951–1992
Rank	Admiral
Commands	HMS Troubridge HMS Fearless
Battles/wars	Cod Wars

Naval career

Educated at Downside School, Thomas joined the Navy in 1951.[2] He was given command of the destroyer HMS Troubridge in 1966.[2] He went on to be Staff Officer Operations to the Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland and saw action in the Second Cod War in 1972.[2] Promoted to Captain, he took part in Polaris development at the Ministry of Defence before being given command of the assault ship HMS Fearless.[2] He went on to be Director of Seaman Officers' Appointments in 1982, Naval Secretary in 1983 and Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1985.[2] Promoted to Vice Admiral, he became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic at Norfolk, Virginia in 1987 and the UK Military Representative to NATO from 1989 to 1992, when he retired from the Royal Navy.[2]

In retirement he became Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.[2] Amongst other honours, he was awarded a papal knighthood in the Order of Pope Pius IX.[2]

Family

Thomas was born 22 Mar 1932 in Rhyl, Wales, the son of Mary Hilda Bertha "Maimie" (née Hemelryk) and Welsh-born Commander William Scott Thomas DSC RN and brother of Lieutenant Commander Simon Scott Thomas, RN.[3] In 1959, he married Paddy Cullinan; they had 8 children.[2] He was the uncle of actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and Serena Scott Thomas (the "Scott" portion of their last names coming from another British naval officer, Capt. Robert F. Scott, the ill-fated explorer of the South Pole).[4]

References

1. Tomlinson, Richard (20 December 1992). "They also serve, who only ush". Independent.
2. Obituary, The Independent, 21 December 1998
3. http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersT.html#Thomas_WS
4. On the move: Kristin Scott Thomas The Times, 10 June 2007

Military offices
Preceded by Richard Fitch	Naval Secretary 1983–1985	Succeeded by Roger Dimmock
Preceded by Sir Geoffrey Dalton	Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic 1987–1989	Succeeded by Sir James Weatherall
Preceded by Sir Michael Knight	UK Military Representative to NATO 1989–1992	Succeeded by Sir Edward Jones
Government offices
Preceded by Sir John Gingell	Black Rod 1992–1995	Succeeded by Sir Edward Jones