Major Robin P. Rising LVO RM (1948-52) passed away peacefully on 18th December 2024 aged 90. His wife Briony Lovell predeceased him in 2014. He left three sons and a daughter by his first marriage to Sarah Montgomery. A memorial service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Cowes on 23rd January 2025. The OP Society was represented by a member of RYS, James Maitland (1957-61). The account that follows is based on material provided by his son Henry and daughter Rachael and by Captain Peter Hore RN.

At the Nautical College Rising was in Harbinger Division and became a Cadet Captain in Lent term 1951. He represented the College in cross-country running in 1950 and 1951 and was Captain of the River and Sailing in 1952.

Inspired by his uncle Captain Humphrey Woods RM (1918-22), one of the first OPs to die in World War 2 when he was killed in action in the cruiser HMS Exeter during the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, Rising opted to do his National Service in the Royal Marines. Selected for officer training, in 1953 he joined 2nd Raiding Squadron, part of 3 Commando Brigade in Malta. Passing the Commando Course in 1955, he was appointed to the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal the next year and arrived with his Firefly dinghy and a 1934 London taxi.

A succession of challenging and interesting RM assignments ensued to 1980. These included helping to create a maritime museum in Exeter by sailing an assortment of antique boats up the river Exe to the museum, specialising in amphibious operations and eventually taking charge of such activities in the commando carrier HMS Albion in support of the defence of Norway. Other roles included a spell as ADC to the Governor of Malta, standing guard over Winston Churchill’s coffin as it lay in state in Westminster Hall and seeing action as adjutant of 45 Commando in Dhala during the Aden Emergency in 1965. His final RM appointment took him to USA as amphibious plans officer of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia.

Leaving the Royal Marines in 1980 at the age of 46 with the rank of Major, he took on the prestigious but precarious job of Secretary of the Royal Yacht Squadron at a very low point in its fortunes with its finances tight and its base in a castle in West Cowes in dire need of modernisation.

Over the next 19 years he helped to transform the RYS. A shrewd judge of character and gifted in his choice of people, he recruited a lively new staff, reorganised the administrative side of the Squadron, restored its financial stability, attracted many new members and generated an esprit de corps which made the club a happier, more welcoming place whilst maintaining its style and traditions.

A mixture of charm, polite firmness and dignity underpinned his achievement. Blessed with an imposing presence and always immaculately attired, Rising was made LVO in 2000 when he left the RYS at the age of 65. Throughout his long life, his constant ability to look on the bright side of things served him well. In retirement his dog walks or visits to the shops invariably took longer than planned as he stopped to chat and befriend others.