Clare Balding

[RoddersUK]

Spot on Arginald. I couldn't put it better myself.

[RoddersUK]

You can't get promotion through connections in the Armed Services. I am glad to say.

[Essex Lad]

RoddersUK wrote:

> You can't get promotion through connections in the Armed
> Services. I am glad to say.
>
No of course not and Tim Lawrence became an admiral because he is a brilliant sailor.

[Milk Tray Man]

i would love to abseil into Clare Balding's boudoir and leave chocolates on her dressing table.

[Peter]

That sounds like a euphemism for something unpleasant!

[RoddersUK]

Well he aint yer normal Jack is he, eh? He is the exception. The British Armed Forces long ago did away with influence and buying commissions. In the RN no one could buy a commission and consequently naval officers were the best that could be anywhere as they were all professional. Those who were the best rose to the top and became admirals. Nelson was the greatest naval officer of all time, but, he was a shyte sailor. As for Lawrence I suspect he has got where he is on some merit. The navy has a habit of not making officers redundant but promotes them. That is why there are more admirals than ships in the RN.

[JamesW]

RoddersUK wrote:

> That is why there are more admirals than ships in the RN.


Just for the record, there are 77 commissioned ships in the Royal Navy and 33 admirals.

[RoddersUK]

That surprises me.
Mind you, Inshore Minesweepers are commissioned ships of war but only had a crew of 15.
HMS Victory is still a commissioned ship of war being Flagship Home Fleet.