George Leigh Upton (S 51-55) a retired Lt Commander RN, “passed away peacefully at Torbay Hospital on August 15th 2007, aged 70 years, after a short illness bravely borne” as the OP Society discovered by chance in 2021.  He was husband to Tricia, and father to three children. His funeral was held at Torquay Crematorium on August 22nd 2007.

Cdr Upton’s death only came to light as a result of efforts made ahead of the OP Falklands commemoration event in Portsmouth in October 2021 to track down all 51 OPs thought to have taken part in the conflict. As far as is known, Cdr Upton was in the Falklands as Chief Officer on a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel.

Upton joined the Nautical College in Lent term 1951 and was in Hesperus Division and Form V1 Science. He was also a member of the NCP’s cross-country running team in 1953, 1954 and 1955 before gaining Special Entry into the RN.