Anthony Griffin Royal Navy officer

Admiral Sir Anthony Templer Frederick Griffith Griffin (24 November 1920 – 16 October 1996) was a distinguished Royal Navy officer who served as Controller of the Navy from 1971 to 1975 and later chaired British Shipbuilders from 1977 to 1980. He joined the Royal Navy in 1934, training at Dartmouth Royal Naval College before being posted to HMS Gloucester during World War II. His wartime service included patrols off Madagascar, Mediterranean actions against the Italian Navy, and participation in Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union. Notably, he survived the sinking of SS Britannia by German raider Thor, escaping to Uruguay and later rejoining the war effort with HMS Fury. After the war, Griffin held various commands and roles, including navigator assignments, service on aircraft carriers, and radar research. He was promoted through the ranks, eventually becoming Rear Admiral in 1966 and Controller of the Navy in 1971. Post-retirement, he led British Shipbuilders during a period of reduced industrial disputes but faced privatization under the Conservative government. Griffin also served as chairman of the British Maritime League and vice-chairman of Wellington College. In 1981, he was awarded the Royal Humane Society medal for bravery after rescuing a drowning man in the Thames, despite the man's eventual death. Married to Rosemary Hickling from 1943, they had two sons and a daughter. Griffin’s uncle, Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, perished when HMS Prince of Wales was sunk in 1941. His naval career spanned over four decades, marked by significant service during World War II, ...