The Submariners Association
Recognised by the Ministry of Defence

The Submariners Association is an Association of ex and serving Submariners which seeks to maintain the special bonds of friendship, loyalty and comradeship, together with a pride in the Submarine Service, formed during service in Her Majesty's Submarines.

The objective of the Submariners Association is to promote and support the RN Submarine Service and its heritage. To Foster the friendships and comradeship peculiar to all submariners so that they may continue to share the experiences and association, and to keep alive that pride in the Submarine Branch, formed during their service in H.M. Submarines.

¤ To promote and foster relationships with submariners of other countries.
¤ To enhance the well-being of submariners past and present and their families.
¤ To promote and support the Submariners Memorial Fund.


Although social occasions form an important part of our activities, the work of the Association is not all beer and skittles. For instance, on leaving the Royal Navy you may move to an area which is new to you or to one which you may have left some years ago. Under these circumstances the local Branch could be a very useful source of advice and contacts in the vital process of readjusting to Civilian life, particularly in such areas as housing, schooling, jobs and the many other matters associated with the transition from service to civilian life.

The Submariners Association can only function properly with the right blend of the old and new. In this context we need your commitment and enthusiasm to help in forging a new look Submariners Association which will combine all of the better qualities of old and new, thereby ensuring that the Association will match up to the needs of the future.

The following is an extract:
The Rules and Constitution and Management Committee Standing Orders
of the Submariners Association.

Clause 3 - Membership

(a) The Association is open for Full Membership to:

i. Officers and ratings who have served, or who are still serving as qualified members of the Ships Company of HM Submarines. This includes members of the crews of Allied submarines which operated under the command of The Flag Officer Submarines in British Flotillas during World War Two (1939-1945).

ii. Exceptionally, qualified submariners of other navies who have served in HM Submarines on exchange drafts for at least six months may have applications for full Membership submitted by a branch for consideration by the National Management Committee.

iii. A person who was a Full Member of The Association on 27th March 1999 and has continued to be a Full Member.

Are You Interested ?? :: Is This for You ?? :: Do You Qualify??

	Patron: Admiral the Lord Boyce KG GCB OBE DL
	President: Admiral Sir James. F. Perowne K.B.E.
Honorary Chaplain to the Association:	The Rector of Liverpool	Reverend Steven Brookes
Hon. Vice President:	Bill Elliot Esq. M.B.E.	Tex Golding Esq.
Hon. Vice President:	Ray Gritt Esq.	Ray Gritt Esq.
	Hon. Vice President: John Huntley Esq	John Huntley Esq.
Hon. Vice President:	Rear Admiral A.J. (Tony) Whetstone C.B.	Tony Whetstone Esq.
	Hon. Vice President: Cdr. Bob Seaward O.B.E.	Bob Seaward Esq.
	Hon. Vice President: Rick Elrick Esq.	Rick Elrick Esq.
	Chairman: Dave Barlow Esq.	Dave Barlow Esq.
	Vice Chairman: John Wood Esq.	John Wood Esq.
	National Secretary: Jim McMaster Esq.	Jim Mcmaster Esq.
	Treasurer: Ian Atkinson Esq.	Ian Atkingson Esq.
	Membership Secretary: Post Vacant
	Committee Member: Rick Rothwell Esq.	Rick Rothwell Esq.
	Committee Member: Frank Pas Esq.	Frank Pas Esq.
	Committee Member: Bas Bowyer B.E.M.	Bas Bowyer Esq.
Committee Member:	Gerry Haigh Esq.	Gerry Haigh Esq.
	Committee Member/Parade Marshall:Iain Mackenzie M.B.E.	Iain Mackenzie Esq.
Standard Bearer PRO TEM.	Trevor Thomas Contact Parade Marshall when Standard Bearer required)	Trevor Thomas Esq.
	Serving Representative: CPO MA. R. (Rob) Simpson	Rob Simpson Esq.
	Minute Secretary: Joan Fraser	Mrs Joan Fraser
	Mike Kemp: Webmaster:	Mike Kemp Esq.

Admiral the Lord Boyce K.G. G.C.B. O.B.E. D.L.
Patron of the Submariners Association

Admiral the Lord Boyce joined the Royal Navy in 1961. After completion of basic training he qualified as a Submariner in 1965 and in the next 7 years he served in HM Submarines ANCHORITE, VALIANT and CONQUEROR, also qualifying in this time as a Torpedo and Anti-Submarine specialist. He then completed the Submarine Commanding Officer's Qualifying Course in 1973 and subsequently commanded HM Submarines OBERON and OPOSSUM before serving as Staff Warfare Officer to Captain (SM) Submarine Sea Training.

After promotion to Commander in 1976 he attended the Roya1 Naval Staff Course from where he joined Flag Officer Submarines Staff as a Staff Warfare Officer. He then commanded HM Submarine SUPERB after which he spent just under a year in the Ministry of Defence (Directorate of Naval Plans) where he was promoted to Captain in 1982. This was followed by command of HMS BRILLIANT and then appointment as Captain (SM) Submarine Sea Training.

In 1986 he returned to the Ministry of Defence and the Directorate of Navy Plans and Programmes as Assistant Director (Warfare) and in 1988 he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies. He then served as Senior Naval Officer Middle East and Commander Task Group 321.1 in the rank of Commodore before becoming Director of Naval Staff Duties (DNSD) from August 1989 to 10 June 1991. From DNSD he was promoted to Rear Admiral and in July took up the duties of Flag Officer Sea Training and Naval Base Commander Portland. In November 1992 he assumed the duties of Flag Officer Surface Flotilla which included the NATO appointment of Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in February 1994 and was knighted in the 1995 New Years Honours List. Promoted to Admiral in May 1995 he simultaneous1y took up the appointment of Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Nava1 Home Command.

In September 1997 Admiral Boyce became Commander-in-Chief Fleet with the accompanying NATO position of Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic and Commander Allied Naval Forces North Western Europe. He was then appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, and First and Principal Naval ADC, in October 1998, serving as the professional head of the Royal Navy until January 2001. He was appointed GCB in June 1999. He became Chief of Defence Staff and professional head of the Armed Forces in February 2001 and relinquished this appointment in May 2003; and he subsequently retired from the Royal Navy after 42 years service. He is currently on the Boards of WS Atkins plc and VT Group plc; and an Advisor to Computer Sciences Corporation and TRICOLOM Ltd. Admiral Boyce was elevated to the peerage in June 2003; and was appointed Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle in July 2004. He was made a Knight of St John in December 2002, and Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in December 2003; and he became the first Colonel Commandant of the Special Boat Service in November 2003.

He is also involved in a number of pro-bono/charity activities including being President, Officers Association; President, St John's Ambulance (London District); President, RN Submarine Museum; Council Member, RNLI; Council Member, White Ensign Association; Trustee, National Maritime Museum; Vice President, Forces Pension Society; Patron, Sail4Cancer; Patron, Trafalgar Woods. Commander, Legion of Merit (US) 1999 (Bronze Oak Leaf, 2003). Board of Directors, Naval & Military Club (2003); Freeman, City of London, 1999; Elder Brother, Trinity House; DL Greater London, 2003. Honorary doctorate, Portsmouth University 2005. He was made Knight of the Garter in 2011.

Recently retired from the Royal Navy Admiral Perowne had a full and varied 37 year career. He specialised in submarines and commanded both a diesel boat, HMS OPPORTUNE 1976-1977, and a nuclear powered fleet submarine, HMS SUPERB 81-83. He was awarded the OBE after his second command. Later, he was placed in command of the Second Submarine Squadron consisting of ten nuclear powered fleet submarines.

In 1996 he made it to the top of the submarine tree by being appointed as Flag Officer Submarines, the head of the submarine service. Not satisfied with only submarines, he was also sent to command two frigates, HMS BOXER 1986-1988 which included service in the Gulf during the Iran/Iraq tanker war, and HMS NORFOLK where he was lucky enough to be the first Royal Navy ship in 22 years to visit Cape town in 1994 after the boycott due to apartheid was finally ended. This command included command of the 6th Frigate Squadron numbering up to ten ships.

He was posted to the British Embassy staff in Washington DC which started a strong and continuing liking for the USA and for the openness of its citizens. This relationship with the Americans was reinforced when as his final posting in the service he was sent to Norfolk, Virginia, to be the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in NATO. He was made a KBE during this appointment.

He continues his connections with the Services though being President of The Submariners Association, The Submarine Officers Life Membership Association as well as being a trustee of The British Forces Foundation. Married to Nicola with four grown up sons, he enjoys golf, canal boating, and classic cars.