British Honorary Admiral Awarded Maritime Doctorate

Honorary Rear Admiral Sir Donald Gosling KCVO RNR has received the honorary degree of Doctor of Maritime Studies from Southampton Solent University, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the maritime sector.

Sir Donald began his career with the Royal Navy on the naval training ship, TS Arethusa in 1943. He entered full service in 1944 and served in HMS St George and then HMS Leander, leaving the Navy in 1948 to pursue a career as a surveyor where he was the founding member of a highly successful business partnership that took over National Car Parks, which became the largest car parking company in Europe.

Sir Donald continued his support of the Royal Navy with over 40 years of charitable service, notably with The White Ensign Association of which he is the current President. In 1992, he created The Gosling Foundation in order to provide charitable help to a wide spectrum of causes, with priority given to HM Forces, the police and law and order. The Foundation was responsible for providing a substantial grant to support the work to save HMS Victory for future generations.

On receiving his award of Honorary Doctor of Maritime Studies, Hon Rear Admiral Sir Donald Gosling KCVO RNR said: “I am very honoured to receive this degree from such a superb university so closely involved with the maritime industry. The Vice-Chancellor said in his speech that the university is going from strength to strength. I know it will. It has been a pleasure watching the smart, happy graduates collecting their degrees today. They are the future of our country.”