Commander Nobby Hall
Commander Neil (Nobby) Hall, Royal Navy, Vice Chairman of the Ton Class Association, Crossed the Bar in hospital on Tuesday 20th April 2021. He had been back in the UK for medical treatment since before Christmas but finally lost his battle with a resurgent cancer.
Like many of us, Nobby’s introduction to the Royal Navy was via the Sea Cadets and he then graduated to the RNVR as a teenager, spending weekends afloat and venturing as far as Gibraltar in on a ROCKHAUL exercise.
Nobby joined the Royal Navy as a Junior Seaman (Mine Warfare) in 1975 and served in HM ships FITTLETON, ALFRISTON, KELLINGTON and WASPERTON.
He was selected as an Upper Yardman and re-categorised to Radar Plotter to gain Operations Room experience before he was commissioned as a Midshipman at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1981. He subsequently served as a Watchkeeping Officer in HM Ships ANDROMEDA (1982/83), PHOEBE (1984/85), ARETHUSA (1986), BROADSWORD (1987/88) and BLACKWATER (1989).
After qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer (Air) at DRYAD in 1990, his appointments included BIRMINGHAM (1991/93), DRYAD (1994), ILLUSTRIOUS (1995/96), NEPTUNE (1997/98), OCEAN (1999/2000) and HQ British Forces Cyprus (2001/04).
On retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 2005, Nobby joined the RN Reserve and was attached to HMS KING ALFRED on Whale Island in Portsmouth from where he was promoted to Commander while working in Information Operations.
His latest appointment was a NATO role at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium as Executive Officer for Information Operations.
Over a 45 year career in the RN, Nobby Hall saw active service in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Persian Gulf, Balkans, and Sierra Leone in HM Ships ranging from Patrol Craft to Aircraft Carrier. He was awarded the Continuous Campaign Service Medal for having spent over 1000 days in combat zones.
Nobby made a mark as Vice Chairman of TCA and was actively involved with other ship Associations and Naval Charities.
He will be greatly missed and stories of his exploits will be told for years to come.
Nobby’s funeral was held on 12th May 2021. TCA was represented by our President Rear Admiral John Lippiett.