Admiral. Sir James Perowne K.B.E.
President of the The Submariners Association.
Recently
retired from the Royal Navy Admiral Perowne had a full and varied 37 year
career. He specialised in submarines and com
manded
both a diesel boat, HMS OPPORTUNE ´76-´77, 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 ´96 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 ´86-88 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 ´94 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.