A Chorleywood man has been awarded the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Vice Admiral Alan David Richards, who was appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence in January this year, was named in the list of military honours.

The long standing member of Rickmansworth Sailing Club was Commodore of the club in 2004/5, the year of the club's 75th Anniversary.

Vice Admiral Richards, whose interests include watching rugby, sailing and competing in triathlons, joined the Royal Navy in 1977 and spent his early years on HMS Shetland, Active and Newcastle.

He served in the Falkland Islands as the helicopter warfare instructor and senior pilot. He then became a towed array specialist in HMS Sirius, and later operations officer of HMS Danae.

He has commanded HMS Monmouth, in which he conducted the first global circumnavigation by a Type 23 frigate, and HMS Cumberland which was deployed to the Gulf during Operation Desert Fox.

He has been the UK Chief of Defence Staff’s Liaison Officer in the Pentagon but was promoted to rear Admiral in August 2007, returning to the Ministry of Defence.

There, as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, his responsibilities included defence policy, strategic nuclear policy and a range of international defence relationships.

In 2009 he became Assistant Chief of Defence Staff and in January 2012 he became Chief of Defence Intelligence.

The Order of the Bath is an honour for chivalry bestowed on members of the armed services.

The name dates back to 1128 when the ceremony involved the ritualistic bathing, similar to baptism, of the recipient. The modern version of the honour was founded in 1725.