The association has learned of the death of Lt Cdr James (Jim) George Jolliffe RN on Sunday 16 December 2012. He was a former FAA observer who lived in Wales.
From records
820 1972-74
845/846 Ops 1974-76
737 Instructor 1977
HMS Hermes Ops 1978
815 1984-89, 1993-95, Lynx
The following is an edited version of the Eulogy given by Commander Ken Morrison:
‘Jim joined the Royal Navy in 1963. He started his naval life as an apprentice and, clearly being one of the more academically gifted members of the class, was then selected to specialise as an Air Electrical Artificer.
He completed his apprenticeship and was advanced to the rank of petty officer. He told me that it didn’t take him long to realize that grafting away on the ship fixing the aircraft wasn’t for him, certainly not whilst others were flying around having fun!
Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, he swiftly applied, and was selected for, officer training at the RNC Dartmouth. Having obtained his commission, he then went to a far flung outpost of Empire – Scotland and RNAS Lossiemouth.
At Lossie he undertook training as an observer, before moving back to Cornwall and RNAS Culdrose for training on the Sea King, and thence to sea in HMS Blake. This was the ship in which we first served together around 1973.
We didn’t know each other at that time, as a young aviator it’s unlikely that he went below 1 Deck and certainly not as far down below as the After Engine Room where I was working!
This was a particularly dark period of Jim’s life. We were in the North Atlantic when he received the terrible news that his first wife, Liz, had died suddenly. We needed to get him home fast, so we closed the coast to enable him to be flown ashore; he left the ship and didn’t return.
Jim was a very active and energetic man, proved by some of his exploits which definitely needed fitness, stamina and determination As examples he played rugby, was the navigator of a very successful team on the infamous Ten Tors endurance test on Dartmoor and he was the OIC of the FAA team in the Brickwoods Field Gun competition.
He also used the Navy to gain experience and qualifications in one of his serious passions in life – Sailing.
As well as his weekend social sailing, he managed to complete a trans Atlantic crossing, participated in The Tall Ships race, several Fastnet and Round the Island races and the Starmanche yacht race.
Of course, that irrepressible dry sense of humour always shone through, and I was told that he even managed to maintain his sense of humour between bouts of violent seasickness in an old ex-German yacht when exposed to atrocious sea conditions.
A great ambition of his was to own his own yacht, this he achieved on the purchase of Blue Valentine, a beautiful wooden hulled cutter in which he and Julie spent many glorious, and some frightening experiences!
The early 1980s saw Jim joining RNAS Portland for conversion to the Lynx which was followed by an appointment to HMS Glasgow as the Flight Commander.
Whilst he was in this appointment there was further testimony to his professionalism when Glasgow Flight received a coveted Fleet Air Arm award for Operational Development, this was accredited jointly to Jim and his great friend Andy Lister.
The late 1980’s saw Jim in London and a dreaded desk job at the Ministry of Defence HQ. Not his natural environment, he nonetheless had a very successful period in the Naval Air Warfare Development Group.
In 1991 I was serving as the Engineer Officer in the Antarctic patrol ship HMS Endurance when Jim joined as the Flight Commander. A particularly interesting time for us as the ship was withdrawn from service at very short notice and the government purchased an ex merchant vessel, the MV Polar Circle, to undertake Antarctic deployments.
Here Jim’s expertise was tested to the full in ensuring that all of the aviation systems and flying procedures were safe to use on the first 6 month unsupported deployment to one of the most hostile environments in the world. Needless to say, Jim bought his department through with flying colours!
The close working conditions, tight social confines and long duration of Antarctic deployments was a great way to get to know somebody, and we got to know each other very well indeed.
We often shared his favourite biscuits, Bath Olivers, accompanied with some Stilton cheese or Gentlemen’s Relish. Occasionally he’d even invite me into his cabin to listen to episodes of The Archers, which Julie was recording back in UK and sending out to him; sadly I was invariably busy elsewhere in the ship whenever these broadcasts took place, so missed out on these particular social highlights!
It was on the way back to the UK when I first properly met Julie. She’d flown out to North Carolina, where we were berthed before our final leg back to UK. I was on the upper deck one evening taking the air as Jim and Julie came skipping down the jetty hand in hand.
It was a joy to see 2 people so complete and as one in each other’s company. Of course this was just the pre-cursor to the main event in 1993, when I had the privilege of being invited to their wedding in Southampton; a fantastic day which ended with them hosting their reception in the ship.
Jim served on in the Royal Navy until 1997, when he hung up his helmet from the day job and he and Julie headed toward their dream of running a smallholding in Wales.
He’s absolutely irreplaceable. A gentle man with a sharp wit and a dry sense of humour, right up until his last 12 months my memories of time with him are of happy days, full of laughter.
Jim was a dedicated officer and consummate professional who served his country and the Royal Navy in impeccable fashion. There are many good reasons why Jim Jolliffe was known as ‘Gentleman Jim’, and that’s how I’ll remember him.’
From Kit Davidson
I served with Jim in several ships and locations including 815 Sqdn. He was the EWI. I was the AEO. Together we organised a squadron party to celebrate the marriage of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson. Prince Andrew was a squadron officer. A large marquee was erected on the HMS OSPREY rugby field. Squadron officers, men and their families attended. Children’s entertainers were present and a bar served beer at cost price. It was not long before bladders were full and springs needed easing. The plan to use the heads in the rugby changing rooms failed. The old shipwright officer who was Chairman of the Officers Club refused entry to the sailors into what he considered was part of the O Club. With some obscure shipwright chivalry, ladies and children were allowed entry. I told the beer drinkers to use the undergrowth at the back of the marquee. Everybody seemed content except for one CPO who having invited his father to the party wrote a letter of complaint to the squadron CO. (Names omitted to protect the guilty). The CO told me to provide my Reasons in Writing for failing to provide proper sanitation at the squadron party. Jim and I muttered into our beards but worse was to come. The bill arrived from Eldridge and Pope. Jim had forgotten to add VAT to the price we charged the sailors for a days beer drinking. It was a large amount of money in the 1980s. The beer drinkers had dispersed and we would need to find the money between us. We worried about it for several days and kept the secret safe from the CO. we hoped the fairies would come in the night and fix it for us. They did. A few days later, Jim won the RN Sports Lottery. Phew!
Below are links to the Order of Service for Jim and the Eulogy given by a colleague from HMS Polar Circle/Endurance.