Robert Gerken

Sir Robert William Frank Gerken was a British Royal Navy officer who served as Flag Officer, Plymouth.

Early life

Robert William Frank Gerken was born on 11 June 1932 in London. He was educated at Chigwell School.

Naval career

After attending the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, Gerken joined the Royal Navy in 1948. He became Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Andromeda as well as Captain of the 6th Frigate Squadron in 1974. He went on to become Captain of the Fleet in 1978, Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1981 with promotion to rear-admiral from 7 July 1981, and Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training in 1983. Promoted to vice-admiral on 15 November 1984, his last appointment was as Flag Officer Plymouth and Port Admiral, HMNB Devonport in 1985 before he retired in April 1987.
In retirement he became Chairman of Plymouth Development Corporation.

Personal life and death

In 1966, he married Christine Stephenson; they had two daughters. Following the death of his first wife he married Ann Fermor in 1983.
Gerken died on 20 December 2022, at the age of 90.