- Author
- Captain Peter Hore, RN
- Subjects
- History - general, Biographies and personal histories, Post WWII
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- June 2004 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Berger was Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, 1976-78, and from 1979 to 1981 held the four-hatted appointment of Flag Officer Plymouth; Port Admiral Devonport; Commander Central Sub Area Eastern Atlantic; and Commander Plymouth Sub Area Channel. However, he was never promoted to the Board of Admiralty and retired in 1981.
Berger was then elected a Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge, and served as Bursar for the next decade. The most junior college servant realised that Berger ran a ‘tight ship’; but Berger knew everyone by name and showed a deep concern for the welfare of all. He frequently contacted local authorities himself to persuade them to give discretionary grants to Selwyn students; and he was so efficient at managing the college’s centenary building programme that there was money left over to build a library extension. The only battle he lost was his bid to abolish free breakfasts for Fellows.
Berger, who died on October 19, was appointed LVO in 1960 and KCB in 1979.