Funeral of Captain Grenville Philip Johnson MBE RN
28 May 2026 - It was standing room only for Grenville’s funeral at Robin Hood Crematorium in Solihull yesterday (see my articles for 29 Apr 2026 and 7 May 2026). The MCDOA was represented by founding MCDOA Chairman David Sandiford, founding Vice Chairman & Webmaster Rob Hoole (Yours Truly), Keith Riches, Dougie MacDonald, Tim Curd, Graham Landrock and Mike Loane.
Another attendee was Cdr Brian Boxall-Hunt OBE, one of my Hawke Division contemporaries at BRNC Dartmouth with whom Tim Curd and I had later served in HMS MINERVA during a West Indies deployment in 1975. Tim Curd and Brian had served with Grenville in HMS BIRMINGHAM under the Command of Rear Admiral Roy Clare CBE DL who had helped with our campaign to erect the Mine Warfare & Diving Monument at Gunwharf Quays (formerly HMS VERNON), as had Grenville.
As a further example of the MCD Branch’s incestuous nature, Keith Riches superseded me in Command of HMS BERKELEY in 1989 and I relieved him as the MCM & Diving Group’s naval applicator at DGUW(N) Portland in 1993.
Click on the image below for the full Order of Service:
Keith Riches has kindly provided the text of his eulogy covering Grenville’s naval career:
Captain Grenville Johnson (Retired) MBE
Sandra has asked me to say a few words about Grenville’s career in the Royal Navy, which spanned 34 years, and an extraordinary range of ship and staff appointments. I was aware of his progression but did not have the privilege of actually serving with him. My personal knowledge of Grenville started during two spells as his lodger in the early eighties. Many others have mentioned his enthusiasm for parties and curries – I certainly concur with that!
Grenville joined the Royal Navy at Dartmouth in 1973 and had initial sea training in HM Ships ARK ROYAL and SALISBURY. Soon after this he qualified as a Ship’s Diving Officer, followed by Bridge Watchkeeping and Ocean Navigation Certificates in the frigate HMS ZULU. In 1976 he completed the Long Mine Clearance Diving Officers’ course, which is a challenging year of training in Diving, Explosives Ordnance Disposal and Mine Warfare, followed by two years in the minehunter HMS SHERATON. Next came an appointment at the Deep Trials Unit near Portsmouth, first learning about and then teaching the complex skills of saturation diving. He was then appointed to the minesweeper HMS SOBERTON in the Fishery Protection Squadron.
So far things had followed a fairly conventional path but in 1981 his career took an unusual turn when he trained as a submariner and served in the submarine HMS OTUS – thus qualifying for submarine pay as well as diving pay! This was followed by two appointments down in the Falklands, first as Commanding Officer of captured ships, for which he received a Commendation, and then in 1983 he was the Boss of the Falkland Islands Clearance Diving Team.
By 1984 Grenville was commanding the minehunter HMS BOSSINGTON. Initially in the NATO Squadron, BOSSINGTON was then deployed to Operation HARLING in the Red Sea. This turned out to be a very important mission to locate and identify live sea mines, for which he was appointed an MBE.
Next came a staff course and the Principal Warfare Officers’ Course followed by an appointment to a big ship for a change - the destroyer HMS MANCHESTER.
Digressing briefly, I think it was in 1986, I was away at sea, and Grenville kindly helped my wife Carrie with our son’s birthday party. He took charge of a boisterous gang of eight year-olds rampaging around a very fine wooden pirate ship! And, ever the naval officer, he produced his sword to cut the cake!
After completing the AMW (Advanced Mine Warfare) Course, Grenville was Operations Officer in the 4th Mine Countermeasures Squadron, based in Rosyth, from 1988 to 1990. During this period I recall a run ashore with Grenville to an Armenian restaurant in Edinburgh. He was a great one for the unusual!
During the period 1990 to 1992, he stood by in build, and then commanded the minehunter HMS INVERNESS.
Grenville received well-deserved promotion to Commander in late 1991 and then spent a year doing Arabic Language Training. There followed three years in Saudi Arabia as Commander Ships on the Hunter Project, accompanied by Sandra and the family.
Back in the UK in 1995, Grenville completed a senior staff course, then went on to serve in the Ministry of Defence in London. This appointment brought together his staff skills and extensive mine warfare experience. I think Grenville relieved me in this job but three years of staff work in MoD has played havoc with my memory!
In 1999 Grenville returned to the middle east, this time as Senior British Loan Officer in the United Arab Emirates.
In 2002 it was back to Saudi Arabia as Deputy Director Ships. He was promoted Captain in 2004 and continued in this appointment until he retired from the Navy in 2007.
Grenville’s career carried on from 2007 to 14, again in UAE but this time as a contractor.
All these appointments in the middle east were married accompanied and must have given Sandra and the children a very interesting life. Actively involved in the welfare of his people and their families, they were also enthusiastic members of the ex-pat social scene. In Abu Dhabi Grenville’s passion for rugby led to a committed and successful involvement in a large rugby club for young folk.
Finally retired and back in UK, Grenville was a staunch supporter of the project to fund and design a statue as a monument to the exploits of mine warfare personnel and clearance divers, known as the Vernon Monument, at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.
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Herewith just a few of the many personal tributes that have been posted:
David ‘Topsy’ Turner:
Yvonne and I are deeply saddened to hear of Grenville’s passing. Our thoughts are with Sandra and family whom we first met when we were posted to the Hunter Project in Saudi.
Five Bells, Grenville, and thank you for everything you did for me and our young family in Saudi. You will never be forgotten shipmate.
Graham Landrock:
Comments gleaned from a few old Saudi and Abu Dhabi hands.
Words that cropped up again and again when speaking of Grenville were; decent, compassionate, thoughtful, astute, professional, loyal, honest and fair. He didn’t suffer fools gladly, but would always be available to offer advice, guidance or just a listening ear.
Fiercely proud of the Royal Navy he was a highly professional leader of the small naval team working in Saudi. Universally respected by his own team, BAE contractors and perhaps most importantly by the Saudi senior commanders and politicians with whom he routinely dealt; he was an operator well known and respected beyond his immediate area of responsibility.
Grenville had a Christmas tradition of bbq-ing the Turkey. This took dedication and was time-consuming, but it was his thing and no other cooking process would be acceptable.
***As an aside, I understand this family tradition has persisted here in Solihull - BBQing the Christmas turkey, rain or shine!***
Kevin Giles:
A wonderful man and a fine officer. A leader in that MCDO cadre which influenced my career decisions.
Michael Florence:
He was such a lovely man. He was my boss in Sheraton. Fair winds and calm seas boss.
Chris James:
I spent seven years working and socialising with him in UAE and am honoured to have known such a thoroughly decent bloke.
Chris Meatyard:
Its always been a pleasure to be in Grenville’s company and to work with him. He was my Staff Operations Officer in the 4th MCM Squadron and to my mind he was star of the show.
Mike Loane:
I was privileged to have Grenville as my Boss twice; once in Saudi 2006/7 and then from 2009 onwards in Abu Dhabi. He was a fantastic mentor, and the most decent human being.
And from Tony Mulrain:
Having had the pleasure of wonvironmrking with Grenville, both in Saudi and then again in Abu Dhabi, I can confirm it takes a special person to lead in those eents. The ability to understand the cultural, political and operational requirements is an art in itself. Grenville excelled at all this whilst putting full trust in the individuals he commanded.
As he closed out his career in Abu Dhabi, there were enormous pressures on contract renewals and degradation of employment conditions. He was able to give firm advice to gain the best results for his team.
Of course none of the above would have been possible if Sandra was not at the ‘tiller’ directing operations at home and telling him “He was wrong at times … he just doesn’t know it yet!”
Sometimes you meet people that have a profound impact on your life. Grenville was one of those people for me.
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Grenville’s long struggle against cancer confirmed what a determined character he was. A few of us visited Grenville and Sandra over the last 18 months or so, and were able to take them out to lunch. Although clearly in discomfort, he always put on a brave face and enjoyed these outings.
On behalf of all Grenville’s ship mates in The Royal Navy I would like to finish by offering condolences to Sandra, Philip, Hayley and Christopher, to Grenville’s mum Joan and all other members of their family.
Sadly this very fine naval officer has crossed the bar.
5 bells Grenville.
I know all members of our community share Keith’s sentiments and will join me in extending our deepest condolences to Sandra, Phil, Chris and Hayley as well as the other members of their families.
The streamed version of Grenville’s funeral is available online using these parameters:
Website:https://watch.obitus.com/login/xmxuef
Login: jiqe4115
Password: 228069