Sir Kenneth Eaton | |
---|---|
Born | Plymouth | 12 August 1934
Died | 20 July 2022 Warnford, Hampshire, England | (aged 87)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1957–1994 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held | Controller of the Navy HMNB Portsmouth |
Awards |
Admiral Sir Kenneth John Eaton GBE KCB FREng[1] (12 August 1934 – 20 July 2022) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Controller of the Navy from 1989 to 1994, as well as President of the Society for Nautical Research from 2020 to 2022.[2]
Born in Plymouth on 12 August 1934,[3][2] the son of John and May, Eaton was educated initially at Sheerness Dockyard School[3] where he undertook apprenticeship as an electrician.[2] He later attended Borden Grammar School and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where he secured a BA in Mechanical Sciences Tripos.[1][4]
In retirement Eaton served as Chairman of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust from 1995 to 1999, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority from 1996 to 2002 and the Mary Rose Trust from 2001 to 2007.[4][2] He was also Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom from 2001 to 2007.[4][2] Eaton was a member of the Society for Nautical Research from 1986, then served as a council member in 2010, chairman in 2011 and finally became President in 2020, a post he remained in until his death.[2]
As well as more prominent Chairmanships, Eaton was also involved with local affairs, chairing the Warnford Village Meeting and the Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium, as well as supporting local opera societies the Wessex Glyndebourne Association, West Green Opera and Grange Festival Opera.[3]
In 2004, Eaton was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Sciences Degree from Aston University.[12]
In 1959, Eaton married Sheena Buttle; they had two sons and a daughter.[4] Eaton died at home on 20 July 2022, at the age of 87 after a short illness.[13][3][2] He was buried at The Church of Our Lady of Warnford on 17 August 2022.[14]