Vonla McBride | |
---|---|
Born | Ballygarvey, County Antrim, Ireland | 20 January 1921
Died | 2 August 2003 Downton, Wiltshire, England | (aged 82)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Women's Royal Naval Service |
Years of service | 1949–1979 |
Rank | Commandant |
Commands held | Women's Royal Naval Service (1976–79) |
Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath |
Sara Vonla Adair McBride, CB (20 January 1921 – 2 August 2003) was a senior British naval officer who served as Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service from 1976 to 1979. She was sent to advise Haile Selassie and later in life served as Chair of the Civil Service Commissioners' Interview Panel from 1985 to 1991.
McBride was born in Ballygarvey, County Antrim, on 20 January 1921. Her parents were Agnes and Andrew Stewart McBride. Her father was a farmer and miller.[1] She was educated at Ballymena Academy, a grammar school in Ballymena, County Antrim.[2] She studied English and French at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[1][3][2]
Having graduated from university, McBride returned to Ballymena Academy as a teacher.[3][4] In time she moved to Gardenhurst School in Burnham on Sea, England, as a demonstration of her independence.[4]
Having left the military, McBride became Director of the City of London Region of Lloyds Bank in 1980. In addition, she served as Chair of the Civil Service Commissioners' Interview Panel from 1985 to 1991. She retired in 1991.[2]
McBride died in Downton, Wiltshire, England on 2 August 2003, aged 82.[1]