Patricia Swallow | |
---|---|
Born | 1931/1932 UK |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Women's Royal Naval Service |
Years of service | 1950–1986 |
Rank | Commandant |
Commands held | Women's Royal Naval Service |
Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Daphne Patricia Swallow, CBE (born 1931/1932) was commandant of the Women's Royal Naval Service from 1982 to 1986. A communications officer, she had followed in the footsteps of her father who served in the Royal Navy as a signals officer. Swallow also had an interest in bird watching and served as vice president of the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society. She was appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. After her 1986 retirement Swallow carried out charity work.
Daphne Patricia Swallow was the daughter of Captain Geoffrey Swallow, a Royal Navy signals officer who served aboard destroyers, including with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla. [1] Swallow, who was known by her middle name, joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (the Wrens) at the age of 18 in 1950. [2] She followed in the footsteps of her father to become a communications officer and served on postings to Malta, Norway, Portsmouth, Gibraltar and at the Royal Navy's Northwood Headquarters. [2]
She served at several stone frigates (Navy shore establishments) including HMS Mercury, HMS Pembroke and HMS Heron. [2] She commanded the Wren training establishment at HMS Dauntless from 1973. [2]
Swallow was a bird watcher and served as vice president of the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society from at least 1978 to 1984. [3] [4]
Swallow was one of the first women to attend the National Defence College and was the first woman to hold the position of command personnel officer at Portsmouth. [2] She later served as staff officer for training and the command Wrens officer at the Portsmouth Dockyard. [2]
Swallow was appointed deputy director of the Wrens in 1979 and also became a Fellow of the British Institute of Management. [2] She was appointed director and commander of the Wrens on 30 July 1982, succeeding Elizabeth Craig-McFeely, [2] and at the same time was appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II. [5] [6] Swallow was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1986 New Year Honours. [7] She ceased to be commandant on 6 February 1986, being succeeded by Marjorie Fletcher, [2] and retired on 4 April 1986. [8] [9] Swallow afterwards worked for charities and got married in 1991. [2]