From 1833 to 1957 the office was mostly filled by a member of the Royal Family, but now it is held by a senior retired officer of the armed forces of the Crown.
The post of Constable and Governor at Windsor Castle happened through and after a very distinguished career as a serving officer in the Royal Air Force.
Sir Richard was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School, RAF College Cranwell and commissioned in 1959. Went through Flying Training on Piston Provosts & Gloster Meteors. As a young Pilot Officer he somehow managed to land at Duxford and was taken under the wing of the late Air Commodore Max Bacon, flying Javelins on 64 Sqn. becoming lifelong friends. As a Flying Officer on ‘A’ Flight in 1961, they re-deployed to RAF Waterbeach. (With better luck, he could have landed at 65Sqn.) Sir Richard went on to fly Hunters in Aden, became a qualified Flying Instructor and, notably, he trained the Prince of Wales to wings standard on the Jet Provost.
In 1974, then a Wing Commander he was made C.O. of No3 Sqn, flying Harriers and in 1977 the unit was moved to Gütersloh. Following various other appointments he went on to be Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group in 1991, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command in 1993 and Commander-in-Chief Strike Command in 1994. He then served with NATO for 2.5 years as CinC Allied Forces North West Europe before his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff in the Spring of 1997. He retired 3 years later, when The Queen appointed him Constable & Governor of Windsor Castle . Also on retirement he assumed the position of Honorary Air Commodore of the RAF Reservists.
And it doesn’t end there, even after that most notable and distinguished career, in 1997 Sir Richard, having been prompted by his good friend Max Bacon, already a member, applied for membership of the Old Dux association ….well he did qualify, having served at Duxford !
In May 2001 Sir Richard was invited to become O.D.A. president but due to existing commitments at that time was unable to accept… leaving the door open ! After further overtures from our intrepid chairman Bob Hope, Sir Richard accepted the presidency at the 2002 May meeting and also managed, with Lady Johns to attend the October dinner, what a great year that was for the Old Dux. We share that Honour with No 3Sqn, as one might expect, and who incidentally now fly Typhoons from R.A.F Conningsby.
I know I speak on behalf of all the members in thanking Sir Richard who, with the help of Lady Johns has supported and given our unique association much valued prestige. We all heartily wish them the long and happy retirement that they deserve.
A Message from our Chairman, Bob Hope to all Committee and Members.
It is with great disappointment that I must inform you all that our esteemed Association Secretary Allan McRae has informed me that he will not be seeking re-election at the AGM on the 11 th . May.
As Allan has already said; he has been “down this road before” but this time, for his own reasons this is final. He intends to retain his membership and looks forward like the rest of us to several more years in The Old Dux. - So there is a vacancy in your committee that needs to be filled; hopefully by a volunteer. Allan has already offered to co-operate with his replacement to ensure a painless handover.
A volunteer or your nominees to be voted in at the AGM is therefore required.
