Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

Toby Frere

Vice Admiral Sir Richard Tobias Frere was a Royal Navy officer who ended his career as Chief of Fleet Support.

Last revised
Jun 29, 2026
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Vice Admiral

Sir Toby Frere

KCB
Born
Richard Tobias Frere-Reeves1

(1938-06-04)4 June 1938
Marylebone, London1
Died5 March 2020(2020-03-05) (aged 81)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch
 Royal Navy
Service years
1955–1997
Rank
Vice admiral
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Vice Admiral Sir Richard Tobias Frere KCB (born Frere-Reeves; 4 June 1938 – 5 March 20202) was a Royal Navy officer who ended his career as Chief of Fleet Support.

Early life and education

Frere was born in London, the son of publisher Alexander Stuart Frere-Reeves CBE and Patricia Marion Caldecott Wallace. His mother was the daughter of writer Edgar Wallace.3 J. B. Priestley was his godfather.4 He was named after his great-grandfather Henry Tobias Frere, a first-class cricketer. When he was 1, his father legally dropped Reeves from their surname.54

He was educated at Eton College and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.3

Frere joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve through National Service in 1955 and was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1958.6 During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, as a submariner based at Halifax, he was involved in setting up a barrier patrol with American air support off Newfoundland.7

He commanded the submarines HMS Andrew, HMS Odin and HMS Revenge before taking charge of the frigate HMS Brazen.6 Promoted to Rear-Admiral, he was appointed Director-General, Fleet Support (Policy & Services) in 19888 and then Flag Officer, Submarines and Commander Submarines for the Eastern Atlantic in 19919 before becoming Chief of Fleet Support in 1994 and retiring in 1997.6

In retirement, he became the First Chairman of The Prison Service Pay Review Body10 as well as Chairman of the Governors of Oundle School.11

Family

In 1968, he married Jane Barraclough; they had two daughters.6

References

References

  1. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007
  2. Frere
  3. Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 1993. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
  4. "Mr A. S. Frere". The Times. 6 October 1984. p. 10.
  5. "No. 34643". The London Gazette. 7 July 1939. p. 4726.
  6. Debrett's People of Today 1994
  7. Cuban missile crisis The Times, 22 October 2002
  8. Whitaker's Almanack 1989
  9. Whitaker's Almanack 1992
  10. A Brief History of the Office of Manpower Economics Formation Office of Manpower Economics
  11. Oundle School Independent Schools Inspectorate, March 2008
External links