General Sir John Stibbon KCB OBE

The Royal Star & Garter Homes was privileged to enjoy Sir John’s support as Chairman of the Board of Governors from 1991 – 1996, and subsequently as a Vice President.

General Sir John Stibbon was educated at Portsmouth Southern Grammar School, and then completed officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1954. His military career encompassed appointments as Commanding Officer of 28th Amphibious Engineer Regiment in 1975, Assistant Military Secretary at the Ministry of Defence in 1977, and Commander of 20th Armoured Brigade in 1979. He became Commandant of the Royal Military College of Science in 1983, and was promoted to Assistant Chief of Defence Staff in 1985. Sir John was Master General of the Ordnance from 1987 to 1991, when he retired from military service.

Sir John joined the Board of Governors of The Royal Star & Garter Homes on 21st November 1991. His time as Chairman encompassed a period of great transition for the Charity, as it adapted to meet the growing care needs of more elderly disabled ex-Service men and women residents.

Sir John oversaw the celebration of the Charity’s 80th anniversary, which was marked by an extensive refurbishment project to modernise the Richmond building and achieve the best possible care for all those living in the Home.

This included the transformation of the open ‘Nightingale’ wards into single and twin rooms for residents, and the re-decoration of the Queen’s room to enhance residents’ enjoyment of in-house activities and events, together with the provision of the most up-to-date therapies and equipment.

Sir John and the Board of Governors developed a forward looking strategy which would enable the Charity to care for those who served for many years to follow. Their aim of ‘providing a real home, to meet individual needs and to help all residents to lead full and active lives’ remains at the heart of the Charity’s work today.

Sir John resigned as Chairman of The Royal Star & Garter Homes in March 1997, but remained active as a Vice-President of the Charity. We are most grateful for Sir John’s years of loyal service to the Charity.