[‘An Admiral with salt in his ears and his tongue’: Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg, First Sea Lord.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr Dean’, listing his ‘appointments as Captain & Admiral’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. See David Owen, who was minister for the navy when Begg was appointed Admiral of the Fleet in 1968, commented on his death that Begg was 'an Admiral with salt both in his ears and his tongue', who 'did not suffer fools gladly' (The Independent, 15 July 1995). 2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Begins: ‘Dear Mr Dean. / I have signed the photograph as you asked. / My appointments as Captain & Admiral have been.’ A list of nine appointments follows, beginning with ‘1947-8 Commanding HM Gunnery School / Chatham.’ and ending with ‘1963 - Commander in Chief / Far East.’ Good bold signature and valediction: ‘With all best wishes / Yours sincerely / Varyl Begg’. The letter can be dated from the letterhead and last item in the list.