Guest of Honour 2001

Air Marshal Sir Christopher Coville
KCB BA FCIPD FRAeS
Air Member for Personnel and
AOC-in-C Personnel & Training Command

Sir Christopher was born in Liverpool and joined the Royal Air Force in 1964 as a Flight Cadet at Cranwell. After flying training, he flew Lightnings with 5 Squadron, then returned to 229 OCU as an instructor. In 1973, he converted to Phantoms and served with 43 Squadron. Whilst with 43, he qualified as a Weapons instructor and achieved his BA through the Open University. The newly-promoted Squadron Leader Coville joined the Phantom OCU, then in 1977 was posted to the Central Tactics and Trials Unit as the fighter specialist. In 1980, he completed the Advanced Staff Course at the RAF Staff College at Bracknell.

Following a tour as PSO to UKMILREP at NATO HQ in Brussels, he served as OC Operations Wing at RAF Stanley in the Falklands. Wing Commander Coville was OC 111 Squadron at Leuchars before being appointed Group Captain Air at HQ 11 Group, Strike Command. As Station Commander of RAF Coningsby, he flew the Tornado F3 and displayed the Hurricane and Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. After the Royal College of Defence Studies, he became Air Commodore Flying Training at HQ Support Command. In July 1992, he became AOC Training Units. Then, on the formation of Personnel & Training Command, he led the Training Group. In September 1994, he became Assistant Chief of Defence Operational Requirements (Air Systems). Air Marshal Coville became Deputy C-in-C, Allied Forces Central Europe in August 1998. Awarded the CB in 1995, he became a KCB in the New Year’s Honours List of 2000 and took up his present post in March 2001. Sir Christopher is married to Irene and has a son and two daughters. Microlight flying, shooting and mountaineering occupy his spare time, whilst he is also President of the Royal Air Force Football Association.