Commander Christopher (Chris) Russell held 7 commands during the Cold War, including HMS Explorer and finally HMS Repulse, a Polaris submarine. He was gazetted OBE in 1976.

After leaving Marborough College, Chris Russell passed into the executive branch of the Royal Navy just after the end of the last war, later specialising in the submarine service.

He held 7 commands during the Cold War, including H.M.S. Explorer (known in the service as Exploder due to the unreliability of it’s propulsion system) and finally H.M.S Repulse, a Polaris submarine.

He held many other important appointments and was gazetted O.B.E. in 1976.

After retirement from the Navy, he had a full and varied career, including helping to train overseas naval personnel and later as Training Officer to the Bahraini Defence Force.

He was an active member of SSAFA and the Gosport Submarine Museum.

He married Joanna Newton in 1952 (sister of Christopher Newton B1 1942-46) by whom he had 3 children. After Joanna’s death he married Elizabeth Banks who survives him with the children of his first marriage.

Christopher Russell died from the effects of asbestos inhalation on January 13 2008.

Dr Andrew Russell (B1 1944-48)