Admiral
Sir Richard Thomas
KCB KCVO OBE
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
In office
January 1992 – 8 May 1995
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded bySir John Gingell
Succeeded bySir Edward Jones
Personal details
Born
William Richard Scott Thomas

22 March 1932
Rhyl, Wales
Died13 December 1998(1998-12-13) (aged 66)
SpousePaddy Cullinan
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service Royal Navy
Years of service1951–1992
RankAdmiral
CommandsHMS Troubridge
HMS Fearless
Battles/warsCod Wars

Admiral Sir William Richard Scott Thomas KCB KCVO OBE (22 March 1932 – 13 December 1998) was the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (or simply Black Rod) in the British Parliament's House of Lords from January 1992 to 8 May 1995.[1]

Educated at Downside School, Thomas joined the Navy in 1951.[2] He was given command of the destroyer HMS Troubridge in 1966.[2] He went on to be Staff Officer Operations to the Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland and saw action in the Second Cod War in 1972.[2] Promoted to captain, he took part in Polaris development at the Ministry of Defence before being given command of the assault ship HMS Fearless.[2] He went on to be Director of Seaman Officers' Appointments in 1982, Naval Secretary in 1983 and Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1985.[2] Promoted to vice admiral, he became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic at Norfolk, Virginia in 1987 and the UK Military Representative to NATO from 1989 to 1992, when he retired from the Royal Navy.[2]

In retirement he became Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.[2] Amongst other honours, he was awarded a papal knighthood in the Order of Pope Pius IX.[2]

Family

Thomas was born 22 Mar 1932 in Rhyl, Wales, the son of Mary Hilda Bertha "Maimie" (née Hemelryk) and Welsh-born Commander William Scott Thomas DSC RN (who commanded HMS Impulsive during World War II) and brother of Lieutenant Commander Simon Scott Thomas, RN.[3] In 1959, he married Paddy Cullinan; they had 8 children.[2] He was the uncle of actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and Serena Scott Thomas[4] (the "Scott" portion of their last names coming from another British naval officer, Capt. Robert F. Scott, the ill-fated explorer of the South Pole).[5]

References

  1. ↑ Tomlinson, Richard (20 December 1992). "They also serve, who only ush". The Independent.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Obituary, The Independent, 21 December 1998
  3. ↑ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 -- T".
  4. ↑ "Richard Scott Thomas". geni.com.
  5. ↑ On the move: Kristin Scott Thomas The Times, 10 June 2007
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