Alan West, Baron West of Spithead
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB
DSC
PC (born 21 April 1948) was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
at the British
Home Office
with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he was First Sea Lord
, the professional head of the Royal Navy
, from 2002 to 2006. He is the current Chancellor of Southampton Solent University
.
, London
, and was educated at Windsor Grammar School, now known as The Windsor Boys' School
and Clydebank High School
. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College
in 1965 and since served on 14 different ships, commanding three of them. In 1980 he was promoted to Commander
and took command of the frigate
HMS Ardent
, which was sunk on 21 May 1982 during the Falklands War. West was the last to leave the sinking ship and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for his leadership. He is the President of the HMS Ardent Association.
In 1986, classified documents about naval cuts West had taken home with him were dropped while he was walking a dog; they were found by a freelance journalist, leading to a Mail on Sunday article outlining the Navy's concern about the possible cuts. According to Private Eye
magazine West, who had the rank of Captain at the time, was charged by the Navy with "wrongfully removing secret documents, not taking proper care of them and failing to inform the ministry immediately of their disappearance." West received a "severe reprimand," according to the magazine, but this was deleted from his record after five years.
West was promoted to Rear Admiral
in February 1994 and made Naval Secretary
. In February 1996 he became Commander United Kingdom Task Group
. In October 1997 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
and Chief of Defence Intelligence. West was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
in 2000. He became a full Admiral in November 2000 when he took up the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet
, NATO Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and NATO Commander Allied Naval Forces North.
West was appointed as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
in September 2002. Admiral West was also a member of the Defence Council
and Admiralty Board as well as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen
.
In 2004 he appeared on BBC Radio 4 and spoke about Trafalgar 200
. Trafalgar 200 was a celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar
. It saw an International Fleet in the Solent
led by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and by the First Sea Lord. West led the demand by the Royal Navy for a major ceremony. He is credited with persuading the government for making the event include a large scale fleet review. In 2005 he served as the chief mourner at a reenactment of Horatio Nelson's funeral.
In the 2004 New Year Honours list he was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
(GCB). He completed his term as First Sea Lord on 6 February 2006 and was succeeded by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
.
. In October 2006 West was appointed to chair the advisory board of defence contractor QinetiQ
. In April 2010, West became patron of the Docklands Sinfonia
symphony orchestra.
Home Office
, with responsibility for Security in the Administration of Gordon Brown, and that same day Brown announced that West was to be created a life peer
. On 9 July 2007 he was created Baron West of Spithead, of Seaview
in the County of Isle of Wight
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
. In November 2007 he told the BBC Radio 4
Today programme
that he was not "totally convinced" of the need for 42-day detention (without trial) of terrorist suspects. But less than two hours later, following a meeting with the Prime Minister
, he said he was "convinced" of the need for the new legislation. He later claimed: "Being a simple sailor not a politician maybe I didn't choose my words well... Maybe my choice of words wasn't very clever". The incident was an embarrassment for the government, particularly as West was the minister
charged with navigating the controversial legislation
through the House of Lords.
He left office on 11 May 2010 when Gordon Brown
resigned as Prime Minister
following the May 2010 general election but continues to sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
Lord West later caused controversy when arguing that cutting down on military spending would lead to the UK being more like "bloody Denmark or Belgium".
, the First Sea Lord, was a guest on the BBC comedy radio show, The Museum of Curiosity
. When asked about burial at sea, Lord West told the audience that "Burials at sea are fraught with danger. The body bobs up and you have to get the funeral party looking the other way while you're trying to knock holes in it, and on one occasion we were actually shooting at it to make it sink, you know, that's the hard part".
When asked about scattering the ashes, Lord West warned of other difficulties: "There was one occasion on a submarine where the ashes were thrown, and of course the submarine was on the surface and the diesels were running and it sucked all the ashes in. And, of course, in a submarine, it goes all the way through the boat, so in the galley, the leading steward was making the canapés for them after their funeral and it was all covered in ash so they were sort of recycling their old man
; it's all a bit tricky, really".
He also spoke of his time in command of HMS Ardent
, where 22 sailors were lost in an attack by the Argentine Airforce during the Falklands War
. He confirmed that, as captain, he was the last to leave alive. He joked that, if the Royal Navy gave him a bigger ship, he'd promised not to sink the new one.
Admiral
Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB
DSC
PC (born 21 April 1948) was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
at the British
Home Office
with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he was First Sea Lord
, the professional head of the Royal Navy
, from 2002 to 2006. He is the current Chancellor of Southampton Solent University
.
, London
, and was educated at Windsor Grammar School, now known as The Windsor Boys' School
and Clydebank High School
. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College
in 1965 and since served on 14 different ships, commanding three of them. In 1980 he was promoted to Commander
and took command of the frigate
HMS Ardent
, which was sunk on 21 May 1982 during the Falklands War. West was the last to leave the sinking ship and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for his leadership. He is the President of the HMS Ardent Association.
In 1986, classified documents about naval cuts West had taken home with him were dropped while he was walking a dog; they were found by a freelance journalist, leading to a Mail on Sunday article outlining the Navy's concern about the possible cuts. According to Private Eye
magazine West, who had the rank of Captain at the time, was charged by the Navy with "wrongfully removing secret documents, not taking proper care of them and failing to inform the ministry immediately of their disappearance." West received a "severe reprimand," according to the magazine, but this was deleted from his record after five years.
West was promoted to Rear Admiral
in February 1994 and made Naval Secretary
. In February 1996 he became Commander United Kingdom Task Group
. In October 1997 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
and Chief of Defence Intelligence. West was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
in 2000. He became a full Admiral in November 2000 when he took up the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet
, NATO Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and NATO Commander Allied Naval Forces North.
West was appointed as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
in September 2002. Admiral West was also a member of the Defence Council
and Admiralty Board as well as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen
.
In 2004 he appeared on BBC Radio 4 and spoke about Trafalgar 200
. Trafalgar 200 was a celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar
. It saw an International Fleet in the Solent
led by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and by the First Sea Lord. West led the demand by the Royal Navy for a major ceremony. He is credited with persuading the government for making the event include a large scale fleet review. In 2005 he served as the chief mourner at a reenactment of Horatio Nelson's funeral.
In the 2004 New Year Honours list he was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
(GCB). He completed his term as First Sea Lord on 6 February 2006 and was succeeded by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
.
. In October 2006 West was appointed to chair the advisory board of defence contractor QinetiQ
. In April 2010, West became patron of the Docklands Sinfonia
symphony orchestra.
Home Office
, with responsibility for Security in the Administration of Gordon Brown, and that same day Brown announced that West was to be created a life peer
. On 9 July 2007 he was created Baron West of Spithead, of Seaview
in the County of Isle of Wight
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
. In November 2007 he told the BBC Radio 4
Today programme
that he was not "totally convinced" of the need for 42-day detention (without trial) of terrorist suspects. But less than two hours later, following a meeting with the Prime Minister
, he said he was "convinced" of the need for the new legislation. He later claimed: "Being a simple sailor not a politician maybe I didn't choose my words well... Maybe my choice of words wasn't very clever". The incident was an embarrassment for the government, particularly as West was the minister
charged with navigating the controversial legislation
through the House of Lords.
He left office on 11 May 2010 when Gordon Brown
resigned as Prime Minister
following the May 2010 general election but continues to sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
Lord West later caused controversy when arguing that cutting down on military spending would lead to the UK being more like "bloody Denmark or Belgium".
, the First Sea Lord, was a guest on the BBC comedy radio show, The Museum of Curiosity
. When asked about burial at sea, Lord West told the audience that "Burials at sea are fraught with danger. The body bobs up and you have to get the funeral party looking the other way while you're trying to knock holes in it, and on one occasion we were actually shooting at it to make it sink, you know, that's the hard part".
When asked about scattering the ashes, Lord West warned of other difficulties: "There was one occasion on a submarine where the ashes were thrown, and of course the submarine was on the surface and the diesels were running and it sucked all the ashes in. And, of course, in a submarine, it goes all the way through the boat, so in the galley, the leading steward was making the canapés for them after their funeral and it was all covered in ash so they were sort of recycling their old man
; it's all a bit tricky, really".
He also spoke of his time in command of HMS Ardent
, where 22 sailors were lost in an attack by the Argentine Airforce during the Falklands War
. He confirmed that, as captain, he was the last to leave alive. He joked that, if the Royal Navy gave him a bigger ship, he'd promised not to sink the new one.
Admiral
Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB
DSC
PC (born 21 April 1948) was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
at the British
Home Office
with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he was First Sea Lord
, the professional head of the Royal Navy
, from 2002 to 2006. He is the current Chancellor of Southampton Solent University
.
, London
, and was educated at Windsor Grammar School, now known as The Windsor Boys' School
and Clydebank High School
. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College
in 1965 and since served on 14 different ships, commanding three of them. In 1980 he was promoted to Commander
and took command of the frigate
HMS Ardent
, which was sunk on 21 May 1982 during the Falklands War. West was the last to leave the sinking ship and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for his leadership. He is the President of the HMS Ardent Association.
In 1986, classified documents about naval cuts West had taken home with him were dropped while he was walking a dog; they were found by a freelance journalist, leading to a Mail on Sunday article outlining the Navy's concern about the possible cuts. According to Private Eye
magazine West, who had the rank of Captain at the time, was charged by the Navy with "wrongfully removing secret documents, not taking proper care of them and failing to inform the ministry immediately of their disappearance." West received a "severe reprimand," according to the magazine, but this was deleted from his record after five years.
West was promoted to Rear Admiral
in February 1994 and made Naval Secretary
. In February 1996 he became Commander United Kingdom Task Group
. In October 1997 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
and Chief of Defence Intelligence. West was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
in 2000. He became a full Admiral in November 2000 when he took up the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet
, NATO Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and NATO Commander Allied Naval Forces North.
West was appointed as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
in September 2002. Admiral West was also a member of the Defence Council
and Admiralty Board as well as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen
.
In 2004 he appeared on BBC Radio 4 and spoke about Trafalgar 200
. Trafalgar 200 was a celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar
. It saw an International Fleet in the Solent
led by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and by the First Sea Lord. West led the demand by the Royal Navy for a major ceremony. He is credited with persuading the government for making the event include a large scale fleet review. In 2005 he served as the chief mourner at a reenactment of Horatio Nelson's funeral.
In the 2004 New Year Honours list he was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
(GCB). He completed his term as First Sea Lord on 6 February 2006 and was succeeded by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
.
. In October 2006 West was appointed to chair the advisory board of defence contractor QinetiQ
. In April 2010, West became patron of the Docklands Sinfonia
symphony orchestra.
Home Office
, with responsibility for Security in the Administration of Gordon Brown, and that same day Brown announced that West was to be created a life peer
. On 9 July 2007 he was created Baron West of Spithead, of Seaview
in the County of Isle of Wight
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
. In November 2007 he told the BBC Radio 4
Today programme
that he was not "totally convinced" of the need for 42-day detention (without trial) of terrorist suspects. But less than two hours later, following a meeting with the Prime Minister
, he said he was "convinced" of the need for the new legislation. He later claimed: "Being a simple sailor not a politician maybe I didn't choose my words well... Maybe my choice of words wasn't very clever". The incident was an embarrassment for the government, particularly as West was the minister
charged with navigating the controversial legislation
through the House of Lords.
He left office on 11 May 2010 when Gordon Brown
resigned as Prime Minister
following the May 2010 general election but continues to sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
Lord West later caused controversy when arguing that cutting down on military spending would lead to the UK being more like "bloody Denmark or Belgium".
, the First Sea Lord, was a guest on the BBC comedy radio show, The Museum of Curiosity
. When asked about burial at sea, Lord West told the audience that "Burials at sea are fraught with danger. The body bobs up and you have to get the funeral party looking the other way while you're trying to knock holes in it, and on one occasion we were actually shooting at it to make it sink, you know, that's the hard part".
When asked about scattering the ashes, Lord West warned of other difficulties: "There was one occasion on a submarine where the ashes were thrown, and of course the submarine was on the surface and the diesels were running and it sucked all the ashes in. And, of course, in a submarine, it goes all the way through the boat, so in the galley, the leading steward was making the canapés for them after their funeral and it was all covered in ash so they were sort of recycling their old man
; it's all a bit tricky, really".
He also spoke of his time in command of HMS Ardent
, where 22 sailors were lost in an attack by the Argentine Airforce during the Falklands War
. He confirmed that, as captain, he was the last to leave alive. He joked that, if the Royal Navy gave him a bigger ship, he'd promised not to sink the new one.
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Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
PC (born 21 April 1948) was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
at the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he was First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
, the professional head of 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...
, from 2002 to 2006. He is the current Chancellor of Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
.
Early career in the Royal Navy
Alan William John West was born on 21 April 1948 in LambethMetropolitan Borough of Lambeth
The Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth was a Metropolitan borough under London County Council from 1900 to 1965.-History:The borough covered the area of the former Lambeth parish vestry. In addition to the historic riverside area of Lambeth, this included Kennington, Vauxhall, Stockwell, Brixton, the...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was educated at Windsor Grammar School, now known as The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School is an all-boys secondary school on Maidenhead Road in Windsor, Berkshire, within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Local Authority.-Admissions:...
and Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School is a non-denominational high school in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is one of three non-denominational schools in the region. The High School offers pupils 5-14 levels A-F, Access three, Standard Grade, Intermediate 1&2, Higher as well as Advanced Higher in some subjects...
. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College
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 1965 and since served on 14 different ships, commanding three of them. In 1980 he was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and took 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 Ardent
HMS Ardent (F184)
HMS Ardent was a Royal Navy Type 21 frigate. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland. She was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position...
, which was sunk on 21 May 1982 during the Falklands War. West was the last to leave the sinking ship and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
for his leadership. He is the President of the HMS Ardent Association.
In 1986, classified documents about naval cuts West had taken home with him were dropped while he was walking a dog; they were found by a freelance journalist, leading to a Mail on Sunday article outlining the Navy's concern about the possible cuts. According to Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
magazine West, who had the rank of Captain at the time, was charged by the Navy with "wrongfully removing secret documents, not taking proper care of them and failing to inform the ministry immediately of their disappearance." West received a "severe reprimand," according to the magazine, but this was deleted from his record after five years.
West was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in February 1994 and made 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 February 1996 he became Commander United Kingdom Task Group
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces or COMUKMARFOR is a senior post in the Royal Navy. The post is the highest sea-going command in the Royal Navy and is part of the Fleet Battle Staff based in Portsmouth, part of Commander-in-Chief Fleet's staff...
. In October 1997 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and Chief of Defence Intelligence. West was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 2000. He became a full Admiral in November 2000 when he took up the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
, NATO Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and NATO Commander Allied Naval Forces North.
First Sea Lord
Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff is the formal title for the office of:* Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy* Chief of the Naval Staff, Pakistan NavyNavies of other countries have similar titles:* Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy...
in September 2002. Admiral West was also a member of the Defence Council
Defence Council
Defence Council may refer to:* Croatian Defence Council, the main military formation of the Croats during the Bosnian War charged with achieving military objectives...
and Admiralty Board as well as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
In 2004 he appeared on BBC Radio 4 and spoke about Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar 200 was a series of events in 2005 held mostly in the United Kingdom to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, where a British fleet led by Admiral Nelson defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. During the summer of 2005 there was an...
. Trafalgar 200 was a celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. It saw an International Fleet in the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
led by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and by the First Sea Lord. West led the demand by the Royal Navy for a major ceremony. He is credited with persuading the government for making the event include a large scale fleet review. In 2005 he served as the chief mourner at a reenactment of Horatio Nelson's funeral.
In the 2004 New Year Honours list he was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(GCB). He completed his term as First Sea Lord on 6 February 2006 and was succeeded by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
Jonathon Band
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCB, DL, ADC , from 2006 to 2009, was the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom, the most senior serving officer in the Royal Navy. Before serving as First Sea Lord he was Commander-in-Chief Fleet...
.
Post-naval career
West was installed as the first Chancellor for Southampton Solent University, formerly Southampton Institute on Wednesday, 28 June 2006. In 2006 West was appointed to the board of the Imperial War MuseumImperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
. In October 2006 West was appointed to chair the advisory board of defence contractor QinetiQ
QinetiQ
Qinetiq is a British global defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency , when it was split up in June 2001...
. In April 2010, West became patron of the Docklands Sinfonia
Docklands Sinfonia
Docklands Sinfonia is a non-professional symphony orchestra in London's Docklands. Since January 2009, the orchestra has been based at St Anne's Limehouse near Canary Wharf.- History :...
symphony orchestra.
Political life
On 29 June 2007 West was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, with responsibility for Security in the Administration of Gordon Brown, and that same day Brown announced that West was to be created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
. On 9 July 2007 he was created Baron West of Spithead, of Seaview
Seaview, Isle of Wight
Seaview is a small Edwardian resort located on the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.The village is popular with tourists and is only a 15-minute drive from the town of Ryde, where most tourists reach the island by ferry or hovercraft...
in the County of Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In November 2007 he told the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Today programme
Today programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
that he was not "totally convinced" of the need for 42-day detention (without trial) of terrorist suspects. But less than two hours later, following a meeting with the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, he said he was "convinced" of the need for the new legislation. He later claimed: "Being a simple sailor not a politician maybe I didn't choose my words well... Maybe my choice of words wasn't very clever". The incident was an embarrassment for the government, particularly as West was the minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
charged with navigating the controversial legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
through the House of Lords.
He left office on 11 May 2010 when Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
resigned as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
following the May 2010 general election but continues to sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
Lord West later caused controversy when arguing that cutting down on military spending would lead to the UK being more like "bloody Denmark or Belgium".
Guest on The Museum of Curiosity
In November, 2011, Lord Admiral WestAlan West, Baron West of Spithead
Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB DSC PC was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the British Home Office with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown...
, the First Sea Lord, was a guest on the BBC comedy radio show, The Museum of Curiosity
The Museum of Curiosity
The Museum of Curiosity, formerly titled The Professor of Curiosity, is a comedy panel game on BBC Radio 4 that was first broadcast on 20 February 2008. It stars John Lloyd as "The Professor of Ignorance at the University of Buckingham" and owner of the fictional "Museum of Curiosity"...
. When asked about burial at sea, Lord West told the audience that "Burials at sea are fraught with danger. The body bobs up and you have to get the funeral party looking the other way while you're trying to knock holes in it, and on one occasion we were actually shooting at it to make it sink, you know, that's the hard part".
When asked about scattering the ashes, Lord West warned of other difficulties: "There was one occasion on a submarine where the ashes were thrown, and of course the submarine was on the surface and the diesels were running and it sucked all the ashes in. And, of course, in a submarine, it goes all the way through the boat, so in the galley, the leading steward was making the canapés for them after their funeral and it was all covered in ash so they were sort of recycling their old man
Old man
-Roles:*Father*Husband*Captain of a merchant ship or a warship*Any male amateur radio operator-People:*"Old Man" of La Chapelle-au-Saints, a skeleton*Joseph "Old Man" Paruta member of the Gambino crime family...
; it's all a bit tricky, really".
He also spoke of his time in command of HMS Ardent
HMS Ardent
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ardent, whilst another two were planned: was a 64-gun third rate launched in 1764. She was captured by the French in 1779 but was recaptured in 1782 and renamed HMS Tiger. She was sold in 1784. was a 64-gun third rate launched in 1782. She caught...
, where 22 sailors were lost in an attack by the Argentine Airforce during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. He confirmed that, as captain, he was the last to leave alive. He joked that, if the Royal Navy gave him a bigger ship, he'd promised not to sink the new one.
Styles and honours
- Mr Alan West (1948–1980)
- Commander Alan West (1980–1982)
- Commander Alan West DSC (1982–1986)
- Captain Alan West DSC (1986–1994)
- Rear Admiral Alan West DSC (1994–1997)
- Vice Admiral Alan West DSC (1997–2000)
- Vice Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC (2000)
- Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC (2000–2004)
- Admiral Sir Alan West GCB DSC (2004–2007)
- Admiral The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC (2007–2010)
- Admiral The Rt Hon. The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC PC (2010– )
| |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) | |
| Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is... (DSC) |
||
| South Atlantic Medal South Atlantic Medal The South Atlantic Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands War of 1982, between the United Kingdom and Argentina; 29,700 were issued... |
||
| |
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II... |
External links
- Biography HMS Ardent Association
- Biography UK Home Office
- "Brown brings in more 'outsiders'" BBC News, 29 June 2007
Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
PC (born 21 April 1948) was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
at the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he was First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
, the professional head of 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...
, from 2002 to 2006. He is the current Chancellor of Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
.
Early career in the Royal Navy
Alan William John West was born on 21 April 1948 in LambethMetropolitan Borough of Lambeth
The Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth was a Metropolitan borough under London County Council from 1900 to 1965.-History:The borough covered the area of the former Lambeth parish vestry. In addition to the historic riverside area of Lambeth, this included Kennington, Vauxhall, Stockwell, Brixton, the...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was educated at Windsor Grammar School, now known as The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School is an all-boys secondary school on Maidenhead Road in Windsor, Berkshire, within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Local Authority.-Admissions:...
and Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School is a non-denominational high school in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is one of three non-denominational schools in the region. The High School offers pupils 5-14 levels A-F, Access three, Standard Grade, Intermediate 1&2, Higher as well as Advanced Higher in some subjects...
. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College
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 1965 and since served on 14 different ships, commanding three of them. In 1980 he was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and took 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 Ardent
HMS Ardent (F184)
HMS Ardent was a Royal Navy Type 21 frigate. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland. She was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position...
, which was sunk on 21 May 1982 during the Falklands War. West was the last to leave the sinking ship and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
for his leadership. He is the President of the HMS Ardent Association.
In 1986, classified documents about naval cuts West had taken home with him were dropped while he was walking a dog; they were found by a freelance journalist, leading to a Mail on Sunday article outlining the Navy's concern about the possible cuts. According to Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
magazine West, who had the rank of Captain at the time, was charged by the Navy with "wrongfully removing secret documents, not taking proper care of them and failing to inform the ministry immediately of their disappearance." West received a "severe reprimand," according to the magazine, but this was deleted from his record after five years.
West was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in February 1994 and made 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 February 1996 he became Commander United Kingdom Task Group
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces or COMUKMARFOR is a senior post in the Royal Navy. The post is the highest sea-going command in the Royal Navy and is part of the Fleet Battle Staff based in Portsmouth, part of Commander-in-Chief Fleet's staff...
. In October 1997 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and Chief of Defence Intelligence. West was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 2000. He became a full Admiral in November 2000 when he took up the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
, NATO Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and NATO Commander Allied Naval Forces North.
First Sea Lord
Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff is the formal title for the office of:* Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy* Chief of the Naval Staff, Pakistan NavyNavies of other countries have similar titles:* Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy...
in September 2002. Admiral West was also a member of the Defence Council
Defence Council
Defence Council may refer to:* Croatian Defence Council, the main military formation of the Croats during the Bosnian War charged with achieving military objectives...
and Admiralty Board as well as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
In 2004 he appeared on BBC Radio 4 and spoke about Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar 200 was a series of events in 2005 held mostly in the United Kingdom to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, where a British fleet led by Admiral Nelson defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. During the summer of 2005 there was an...
. Trafalgar 200 was a celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. It saw an International Fleet in the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
led by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and by the First Sea Lord. West led the demand by the Royal Navy for a major ceremony. He is credited with persuading the government for making the event include a large scale fleet review. In 2005 he served as the chief mourner at a reenactment of Horatio Nelson's funeral.
In the 2004 New Year Honours list he was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(GCB). He completed his term as First Sea Lord on 6 February 2006 and was succeeded by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
Jonathon Band
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCB, DL, ADC , from 2006 to 2009, was the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom, the most senior serving officer in the Royal Navy. Before serving as First Sea Lord he was Commander-in-Chief Fleet...
.
Post-naval career
West was installed as the first Chancellor for Southampton Solent University, formerly Southampton Institute on Wednesday, 28 June 2006. In 2006 West was appointed to the board of the Imperial War MuseumImperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
. In October 2006 West was appointed to chair the advisory board of defence contractor QinetiQ
QinetiQ
Qinetiq is a British global defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency , when it was split up in June 2001...
. In April 2010, West became patron of the Docklands Sinfonia
Docklands Sinfonia
Docklands Sinfonia is a non-professional symphony orchestra in London's Docklands. Since January 2009, the orchestra has been based at St Anne's Limehouse near Canary Wharf.- History :...
symphony orchestra.
Political life
On 29 June 2007 West was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, with responsibility for Security in the Administration of Gordon Brown, and that same day Brown announced that West was to be created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
. On 9 July 2007 he was created Baron West of Spithead, of Seaview
Seaview, Isle of Wight
Seaview is a small Edwardian resort located on the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.The village is popular with tourists and is only a 15-minute drive from the town of Ryde, where most tourists reach the island by ferry or hovercraft...
in the County of Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In November 2007 he told the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Today programme
Today programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
that he was not "totally convinced" of the need for 42-day detention (without trial) of terrorist suspects. But less than two hours later, following a meeting with the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, he said he was "convinced" of the need for the new legislation. He later claimed: "Being a simple sailor not a politician maybe I didn't choose my words well... Maybe my choice of words wasn't very clever". The incident was an embarrassment for the government, particularly as West was the minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
charged with navigating the controversial legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
through the House of Lords.
He left office on 11 May 2010 when Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
resigned as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
following the May 2010 general election but continues to sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
Lord West later caused controversy when arguing that cutting down on military spending would lead to the UK being more like "bloody Denmark or Belgium".
Guest on The Museum of Curiosity
In November, 2011, Lord Admiral WestAlan West, Baron West of Spithead
Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB DSC PC was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the British Home Office with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown...
, the First Sea Lord, was a guest on the BBC comedy radio show, The Museum of Curiosity
The Museum of Curiosity
The Museum of Curiosity, formerly titled The Professor of Curiosity, is a comedy panel game on BBC Radio 4 that was first broadcast on 20 February 2008. It stars John Lloyd as "The Professor of Ignorance at the University of Buckingham" and owner of the fictional "Museum of Curiosity"...
. When asked about burial at sea, Lord West told the audience that "Burials at sea are fraught with danger. The body bobs up and you have to get the funeral party looking the other way while you're trying to knock holes in it, and on one occasion we were actually shooting at it to make it sink, you know, that's the hard part".
When asked about scattering the ashes, Lord West warned of other difficulties: "There was one occasion on a submarine where the ashes were thrown, and of course the submarine was on the surface and the diesels were running and it sucked all the ashes in. And, of course, in a submarine, it goes all the way through the boat, so in the galley, the leading steward was making the canapés for them after their funeral and it was all covered in ash so they were sort of recycling their old man
Old man
-Roles:*Father*Husband*Captain of a merchant ship or a warship*Any male amateur radio operator-People:*"Old Man" of La Chapelle-au-Saints, a skeleton*Joseph "Old Man" Paruta member of the Gambino crime family...
; it's all a bit tricky, really".
He also spoke of his time in command of HMS Ardent
HMS Ardent
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ardent, whilst another two were planned: was a 64-gun third rate launched in 1764. She was captured by the French in 1779 but was recaptured in 1782 and renamed HMS Tiger. She was sold in 1784. was a 64-gun third rate launched in 1782. She caught...
, where 22 sailors were lost in an attack by the Argentine Airforce during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. He confirmed that, as captain, he was the last to leave alive. He joked that, if the Royal Navy gave him a bigger ship, he'd promised not to sink the new one.
Styles and honours
- Mr Alan West (1948–1980)
- Commander Alan West (1980–1982)
- Commander Alan West DSC (1982–1986)
- Captain Alan West DSC (1986–1994)
- Rear Admiral Alan West DSC (1994–1997)
- Vice Admiral Alan West DSC (1997–2000)
- Vice Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC (2000)
- Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC (2000–2004)
- Admiral Sir Alan West GCB DSC (2004–2007)
- Admiral The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC (2007–2010)
- Admiral The Rt Hon. The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC PC (2010– )
| |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) | |
| Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is... (DSC) |
||
| South Atlantic Medal South Atlantic Medal The South Atlantic Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands War of 1982, between the United Kingdom and Argentina; 29,700 were issued... |
||
| |
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II... |
External links
- Biography HMS Ardent Association
- Biography UK Home Office
- "Brown brings in more 'outsiders'" BBC News, 29 June 2007
Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
PC (born 21 April 1948) was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
at the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he was First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
, the professional head of 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...
, from 2002 to 2006. He is the current Chancellor of Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
.
Early career in the Royal Navy
Alan William John West was born on 21 April 1948 in LambethMetropolitan Borough of Lambeth
The Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth was a Metropolitan borough under London County Council from 1900 to 1965.-History:The borough covered the area of the former Lambeth parish vestry. In addition to the historic riverside area of Lambeth, this included Kennington, Vauxhall, Stockwell, Brixton, the...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was educated at Windsor Grammar School, now known as The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School is an all-boys secondary school on Maidenhead Road in Windsor, Berkshire, within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Local Authority.-Admissions:...
and Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School is a non-denominational high school in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is one of three non-denominational schools in the region. The High School offers pupils 5-14 levels A-F, Access three, Standard Grade, Intermediate 1&2, Higher as well as Advanced Higher in some subjects...
. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College
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 1965 and since served on 14 different ships, commanding three of them. In 1980 he was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and took 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 Ardent
HMS Ardent (F184)
HMS Ardent was a Royal Navy Type 21 frigate. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland. She was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position...
, which was sunk on 21 May 1982 during the Falklands War. West was the last to leave the sinking ship and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
for his leadership. He is the President of the HMS Ardent Association.
In 1986, classified documents about naval cuts West had taken home with him were dropped while he was walking a dog; they were found by a freelance journalist, leading to a Mail on Sunday article outlining the Navy's concern about the possible cuts. According to Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
magazine West, who had the rank of Captain at the time, was charged by the Navy with "wrongfully removing secret documents, not taking proper care of them and failing to inform the ministry immediately of their disappearance." West received a "severe reprimand," according to the magazine, but this was deleted from his record after five years.
West was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in February 1994 and made 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 February 1996 he became Commander United Kingdom Task Group
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces or COMUKMARFOR is a senior post in the Royal Navy. The post is the highest sea-going command in the Royal Navy and is part of the Fleet Battle Staff based in Portsmouth, part of Commander-in-Chief Fleet's staff...
. In October 1997 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and Chief of Defence Intelligence. West was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 2000. He became a full Admiral in November 2000 when he took up the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
, NATO Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and NATO Commander Allied Naval Forces North.
First Sea Lord
Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of the Naval Staff is the formal title for the office of:* Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy* Chief of the Naval Staff, Pakistan NavyNavies of other countries have similar titles:* Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy...
in September 2002. Admiral West was also a member of the Defence Council
Defence Council
Defence Council may refer to:* Croatian Defence Council, the main military formation of the Croats during the Bosnian War charged with achieving military objectives...
and Admiralty Board as well as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
In 2004 he appeared on BBC Radio 4 and spoke about Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar 200 was a series of events in 2005 held mostly in the United Kingdom to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, where a British fleet led by Admiral Nelson defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. During the summer of 2005 there was an...
. Trafalgar 200 was a celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. It saw an International Fleet in the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
led by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and by the First Sea Lord. West led the demand by the Royal Navy for a major ceremony. He is credited with persuading the government for making the event include a large scale fleet review. In 2005 he served as the chief mourner at a reenactment of Horatio Nelson's funeral.
In the 2004 New Year Honours list he was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(GCB). He completed his term as First Sea Lord on 6 February 2006 and was succeeded by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
Jonathon Band
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCB, DL, ADC , from 2006 to 2009, was the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom, the most senior serving officer in the Royal Navy. Before serving as First Sea Lord he was Commander-in-Chief Fleet...
.
Post-naval career
West was installed as the first Chancellor for Southampton Solent University, formerly Southampton Institute on Wednesday, 28 June 2006. In 2006 West was appointed to the board of the Imperial War MuseumImperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
. In October 2006 West was appointed to chair the advisory board of defence contractor QinetiQ
QinetiQ
Qinetiq is a British global defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency , when it was split up in June 2001...
. In April 2010, West became patron of the Docklands Sinfonia
Docklands Sinfonia
Docklands Sinfonia is a non-professional symphony orchestra in London's Docklands. Since January 2009, the orchestra has been based at St Anne's Limehouse near Canary Wharf.- History :...
symphony orchestra.
Political life
On 29 June 2007 West was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, with responsibility for Security in the Administration of Gordon Brown, and that same day Brown announced that West was to be created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
. On 9 July 2007 he was created Baron West of Spithead, of Seaview
Seaview, Isle of Wight
Seaview is a small Edwardian resort located on the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.The village is popular with tourists and is only a 15-minute drive from the town of Ryde, where most tourists reach the island by ferry or hovercraft...
in the County of Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In November 2007 he told the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Today programme
Today programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
that he was not "totally convinced" of the need for 42-day detention (without trial) of terrorist suspects. But less than two hours later, following a meeting with the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, he said he was "convinced" of the need for the new legislation. He later claimed: "Being a simple sailor not a politician maybe I didn't choose my words well... Maybe my choice of words wasn't very clever". The incident was an embarrassment for the government, particularly as West was the minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
charged with navigating the controversial legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
through the House of Lords.
He left office on 11 May 2010 when Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
resigned as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
following the May 2010 general election but continues to sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
Lord West later caused controversy when arguing that cutting down on military spending would lead to the UK being more like "bloody Denmark or Belgium".
Guest on The Museum of Curiosity
In November, 2011, Lord Admiral WestAlan West, Baron West of Spithead
Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB DSC PC was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the British Home Office with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown...
, the First Sea Lord, was a guest on the BBC comedy radio show, The Museum of Curiosity
The Museum of Curiosity
The Museum of Curiosity, formerly titled The Professor of Curiosity, is a comedy panel game on BBC Radio 4 that was first broadcast on 20 February 2008. It stars John Lloyd as "The Professor of Ignorance at the University of Buckingham" and owner of the fictional "Museum of Curiosity"...
. When asked about burial at sea, Lord West told the audience that "Burials at sea are fraught with danger. The body bobs up and you have to get the funeral party looking the other way while you're trying to knock holes in it, and on one occasion we were actually shooting at it to make it sink, you know, that's the hard part".
When asked about scattering the ashes, Lord West warned of other difficulties: "There was one occasion on a submarine where the ashes were thrown, and of course the submarine was on the surface and the diesels were running and it sucked all the ashes in. And, of course, in a submarine, it goes all the way through the boat, so in the galley, the leading steward was making the canapés for them after their funeral and it was all covered in ash so they were sort of recycling their old man
Old man
-Roles:*Father*Husband*Captain of a merchant ship or a warship*Any male amateur radio operator-People:*"Old Man" of La Chapelle-au-Saints, a skeleton*Joseph "Old Man" Paruta member of the Gambino crime family...
; it's all a bit tricky, really".
He also spoke of his time in command of HMS Ardent
HMS Ardent
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ardent, whilst another two were planned: was a 64-gun third rate launched in 1764. She was captured by the French in 1779 but was recaptured in 1782 and renamed HMS Tiger. She was sold in 1784. was a 64-gun third rate launched in 1782. She caught...
, where 22 sailors were lost in an attack by the Argentine Airforce during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. He confirmed that, as captain, he was the last to leave alive. He joked that, if the Royal Navy gave him a bigger ship, he'd promised not to sink the new one.
Styles and honours
- Mr Alan West (1948–1980)
- Commander Alan West (1980–1982)
- Commander Alan West DSC (1982–1986)
- Captain Alan West DSC (1986–1994)
- Rear Admiral Alan West DSC (1994–1997)
- Vice Admiral Alan West DSC (1997–2000)
- Vice Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC (2000)
- Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC (2000–2004)
- Admiral Sir Alan West GCB DSC (2004–2007)
- Admiral The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC (2007–2010)
- Admiral The Rt Hon. The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC PC (2010– )
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Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) | |
| Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is... (DSC) |
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| South Atlantic Medal South Atlantic Medal The South Atlantic Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands War of 1982, between the United Kingdom and Argentina; 29,700 were issued... |
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Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II... |
External links
- Biography HMS Ardent Association
- Biography UK Home Office
- "Brown brings in more 'outsiders'" BBC News, 29 June 2007
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