Son of a distinguished naval officer who died commanding the battleship 'Prince of Wales' in 1941, Henry Leach joined the Royal Navy as a 13 year old cadet in 1937 and left as an admiral 45 years later He commanded a destroyer, a squadron of frigates and a commando carrier before reaching flag rank and later held various important posts ending as First Sea Lord Since leaving active service he has, among other appointments, been chairman of St Dunstan's