Paul Greening
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
Sir Paul Woollven Greening GCVO
(4 June 1928 – 5 November 2008) was a Royal Navy
officer who became Naval Secretary
.
, Greening joined the Royal Navy
in 1946. He was given command of the minesweepers
HMS Asheldham, HMS Messina, HMS Lewiston and then the frigate
HMS Jaguar
. He was appointed Fleet Plans Officer for the Far East Fleet in 1969 and, following his promotion to Captain
, given command of the frigate
HMS Aurora
in 1970. He went on to be Captain, Naval Drafting in 1971, Director of Seaman Officer Appointments in 1974 and Captain of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
in 1976. Promoted to Rear Admiral, he became Naval Secretary
in 1978 and Flag Officer, Royal Yachts with specific responsibility for HM Yacht Britannia
in 1981. He was responsible for planning the honeymoon
of the Prince
and Princess of Wales
in August 1981. He retired in 1985.
He was appointed an Extra Equerry to the Queen in 1983 and Master of the Household
of the Sovereign
from 1986 to 1992.
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
Sir Paul Woollven Greening GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(4 June 1928 – 5 November 2008) was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer who became Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...
.
Naval career
Educated at Mowden School and the Nautical College at PangbournePangbourne College
Pangbourne College is a coeducational independent school located in the civil parish of Pangbourne, just South West of the village, in the English County of Berkshire....
, Greening joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1946. He was given command of the minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
HMS Asheldham, HMS Messina, HMS Lewiston and then the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMS Jaguar
HMS Jaguar (F37)
HMS Jaguar , was a Leopard-class Type 41 anti aircraft frigate of the British Royal Navy, named after the jaguar.The Jaguar was the last frigate built by William Denny and Brothers for the Royal Navy. Unlike the rest of her class, the Jaguar was fitted with controllable pitch propellers...
. He was appointed Fleet Plans Officer for the Far East Fleet in 1969 and, following his promotion to Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
, given command of the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMS Aurora
HMS Aurora (F10)
HMS Aurora was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy . Like other ships of the class, Aurora was named after a figure of mythology, Aurora being the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Eos. HMS Aurora was built by John Brown & Company, shipbuilders of Clydebank, Scotland...
in 1970. He went on to be Captain, Naval Drafting in 1971, Director of Seaman Officer Appointments in 1974 and Captain of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
in 1976. Promoted to Rear Admiral, he became Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...
in 1978 and Flag Officer, Royal Yachts with specific responsibility for HM Yacht Britannia
HMY Britannia
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former Royal Yacht of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the 83rd such vessel since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. She is the second Royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the famous racing cutter built for The Prince of Wales...
in 1981. He was responsible for planning the honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
of the Prince
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
in August 1981. He retired in 1985.
He was appointed an Extra Equerry to the Queen in 1983 and Master of the Household
Master of the Household
The Master of the Household is the operational head of the "below stairs" elements of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom...
of the Sovereign
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
from 1986 to 1992.