ADMIRAL SIR KENNETH JOHN EATON.
Sir Kenneth John Eaton G.B.E., K.C.B., F.Eng.
FIEE. was born in Sheerness
on
.Kenneth married Sheena Buttle in 1959 having two sons He was educated at Borden Grammar School(and has returned there to present prizes at Speech Day )after which he served his apprenticeship as an Electrician in Sheerness Dockyard circa 1950 . At one time in the Dockyard he came under the supervision of Mr. Bailey who was the Inspector of Electricians , a very high graded salaried managerial position and he often commented to his son Ron how this lad Ken was very bright and had a great future ahead of him .He then joined the R.N. and then on to Fitzwilliam College Cambridge University where he obtained his B.A. .He then effectively left Sheerness and has not lived here since but still remembers Sheerness .
I searched Google (a search machine on the inernet ) and found his e-mail address and I sent him a message which he replied to the same day , a very friendly message from such a busy man
.. I left Sheerness at that time and have not
lived there since clearly well over 50
years
..
He was on the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments which was set up by the then Prime Minister in 1975 to advise him on applications from the most senior Crown servants .The Committee advises the Foreign Secretary on applications from senior diplomats
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1994
He was awarded the
In 2001 he was made Admiral of the
As Chairman of The Mary Rose Trust he was presented with the original search chart of the sea area by the two who carried out the dive. (www.flagship.org.uk/news.htm )
He was on the Board of The White Ensign Association an Admiralty Board endorsed Naval Charity set up to assist all ranks from Ordinary Seaman to Admiral , serving and retired, with advice and guidance on all personal and professional matters
He served on many ships from 1965 - 1971 including, Victorious, Eagle , Collingwood , Bristol, Ark Royal etc. and from 1971-1972 he worked on Defence Communications Network.
From 197881 he was with the MoD, and he was The Director of
Torpedoes 1983-85and also the Dir- Gen of Underwater Weapons 1985 - 1987 and
then in 1987-89 he was the Flag Officer
for
He was The Controller of the Royal Navy and from 1989 94 and he was responsible for reporting to the Admiralty Board on Royal Naval procurement and safety issues. He was also a Director of Defence Logistics Organisation in his role as Director General (Nuclear)
( It is interesting to note that in 1901 the Controller of the Navy Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson V.C. described submarines as underhand, unfair and dammed un-English.Theyll never be any use in war and Ill tell you why Im going to get the First Sea Lord to announce that we intend to treat all submarines as pirate vessels in wartime and that we will hang all the crews )
Admiral John Jellicoe was also The Controller of the Royal Navy as was The 1st Lord Fisher of Kilverstone . There were very many distinguished Controllers including Henry Bradwardine Jackson, G.C.B., K.C.B., K.C.V.O.,
Kenneth was the Chairman of UKAEA. 1996 - 2002
And as the Chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority the principal activity of which was to manage nuclear liabilities and our associated responsibilities in a way which is safe and secure, environmentally responsible , value for money , and publicly acceptable .As a non-executive member in 2001-2002 his emolument was £30,000 for 2001, and also £30,000 in 2002
From 1995 1999 he was the Chairman of Guys and St.Thomas NHS Trust and from 1995 2001 he was with The National Remote Sensing Centre .
His recreations are
the Countryside ,theatre , opera, and classical music.