University Professor Honoured by Royal Naval Association
Professor Alan Reed, Director of Regional Development (Kent & Medway) at the University of Greenwich, has been awarded honorary membership of the Royal Naval Association (RNA).
The honour was announced at the Trafalgar Day dinner of the Chatham branch of the RNA.
Branch secretary Bill Murray says the award was in recognition of Professor Reed’s outstanding commitment to the conservation and restoration of the former naval buildings at Chatham Maritime.
These include the Pembroke Building, which is now part of the University of Greenwich at Medway, the rest of the HMS Pembroke Naval Barracks and the Drill Hall, which has been converted into a library serving Universities at Medway and the local community.
Professor Reed also worked closely with the Royal Naval Association and the Universities at Medway to organise the recent commemorative parade and the unveiling of a plaque honouring the 130 Royal Navy sailors killed when two German bombs hit HMS Pembroke Naval Barracks in 1917.
Mr Murray says: “Professor Reed has been remarkable in devoting so much time and energy to marking the importance of the former naval buildings and the many Royal Navy people who served there.
“And he continues to work on in his bid to restore the Ward Room in the Pembroke Building and to reinstate naval trophies and features that were removed when it was no longer required by the Royal Navy.”
Professor Alan Reed says: “This came as a great surprise and a great honour. I am privileged to have been in a position to assist in conserving and marking the longstanding connections between the Royal Navy and our university campus at Medway. We are maintaining our rich naval heritage which has been of such pride to the people of Medway for so long.”
The Royal Naval Association has 35,000 members of which 120 belong to the Chatham branch.
The Trafalgar Day dinner was held at the St George Hotel, Chatham.
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Caption: Professor Alan Reed
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