John Stibbon

Stibbon and his twin sister were born in London, England, on 5 January 1935 to Jack Stibbon, a policeman.[1] With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he was evacuated to Norfolk.[1] He was educated at Portsmouth Southern Grammar School.[2] At school, he was an accomplished athlete and footballer.[1]

Having completed officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Stibbon was commissioned into the Royal Engineers, British Army, on 6 August 1954 as a second lieutenant.[3][4] He was appointed Commanding Officer of 28th Amphibious Engineer Regiment in 1975 and then made Assistant Military Secretary at the Ministry of Defence in 1977.[4] In 1979 he was made Commander of 20th Armoured Brigade and in 1983 he became Commandant of the Royal Military College of Science.[4] He was promoted to Assistant Chief of Defence Staff in 1985 and to Master-General of the Ordnance in 1987; he retired in 1991.[4] He was also Chief Royal Engineer from 1993 to 1999 and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Army Pay Corps (1985 to 1987) and of the Royal Pioneer Corps (1986 to 1987).[4]

In retirement, Stibbon was a non-executive director of the Chemring Group from 1993 to 2005 and chairman of ITT Defence Ltd from 1993 to 2004.[4] He was also an honorary vice-president of the Football Association from 1987 to 1993.[4]

Stibbon died on 9 February 2014. His funeral service was held at St Andrew's Church, Shrivenham on 25 February 2014.[5]