Brigadier Anthony Vivian, died on 13 September 2026, aged 93.

This obituary was adapted by David Walsh from one in a military publication.

Anthony Chester Vivian was born on 17 April 1933. He was educated at Barfield Preparatory School and then Tonbridge, where he was a scholar and was a near contemporary of David Kemp’s in Parkside, beginning a close association with David and Marion which lasted a lifetime. At Tonbridge, his love of cricket emerged, playing in the 1st XI under the captaincy of Colin Cowdrey. In the 1952 Wisden, there is a report of a match between Tonbridge and Bradfield which shows two Bradfield batsmen were dismissed: st. Vivian b. Cowdrey.

Anthony started National Service as a guardsman in the Welsh Guards but then applied to join the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Once commissioned, he joined the 2nd Battalion bound for Korea. When an armistice was signed, the Battalion was sent to Singapore and thence to take part in the Malayan Emergency. Although he had much disliked days with the CCF at Tonbridge, Anthony found himself enjoying Army life and was granted a Regular commission.

Following Malaya, Anthony was at the Regimental Depot in Wrexham. He became a well-known figure in the town, driving around in an open-topped Rolls-Royce universally known as “The Queen”. He played tennis, real tennis, and squash at Army championship level and developed into a proficient cricketer. He arranged a match for the 1st Battalion against a McAlpine XI at Marchwiel. Justifiably concerned that his side would be no match for the opposition's professionals, he somehow persuaded no less a player than Frank Worrell, the West Indies captain, to join his team. This was an early example of his uncanny knack of “going to the top” to get things done. In the event, Worrell was out second ball for a duck!

In 1962, he was selected to be ADC to General Stockwell, then Deputy Supreme Commander at SHAPE in Paris. The General tasked him with arranging a farewell dinner and making sure it was a memorable occasion. With the Vivian flair, he achieved this by inviting the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, then resident in Paris. Rarely before had they accepted such a private invitation.

In June 1967 he flew back to the UK to marry Jackie, great-granddaughter of Lord Jellicoe of Jutland. They began their married life in Hong Kong, where Anthony was in the Intelligence branch with responsibility for China. He played cricket for Hong Kong against the English Test side (which included his old friend Colin Cowdrey) on their way home from an Ashes tour of Australia.

Promoted Lieutenant Colonel in 1972, he assumed command of the 1st Battalion in early 1974 and various military appointments followed in Ghana, Belize, Paris (as Defence Attache) and Belgium (on the staff of SHAPE). He was promoted to Brigadier, was appointed CBE and became ADC to HM The Queen and Colonel of the Regiment in 1984.

In retirement from the Army, he gave much time to regimental affairs and became increasingly involved with the 23rd Regiment of America. They made him their Honorary Colonel, and he would visit them once or twice a year and take part in their full-dress re-enactment battles. That his Colonelcy should coincide with the Tercentenary year of the raising of the 23rd Regiment was the greatest stroke of good fortune. He was the mastermind behind the planning of events, and his first stroke of genius was to come up with the idea that the main parade would be at Powis Castle on the birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth, the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief and Anthony managed to ensure that the Queen would attend the parade. He personally scripted the whole show and engaged Sir Michael Parker (of Royal Tournament fame) to direct it. It was an amazing occasion, never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. During lunch, he mentioned to Her Majesty that the Earl of Snowdon, Constable of Caernarfon Castle, could not attend a Ceremony of the Keys planned at the castle in September. It is said that Her Majesty took a handkerchief from her handbag, tied a knot in it, and the Earl was duly present at the ceremony.

In his retirement, Anthony was also a loyal and generous supporter of all things Tonbridge. He rarely missed an OT Cricketer Cup match, home or away, entertaining his friends to picnics, and always keen to know who was playing, what our chances were and why we won or lost. He could be found at many other school occasions – at concerts, receptions and in Chapel for School and memorial services, despite increasing fragility but always accompanied by John, his faithful carer for his last twelve years. He was honoured to serve as President of the OT Society in 2010-11 and was a regular at OT Dinners, lunches and committee meetings, often venturing well thought out and helpful opinions. Nothing about Tonbridge was ever too much trouble for him.

In preparation for civilian life, he and Jackie purchased a house in Battersea and a cottage in County Waterford. Jackie’s death in 2014 led to the house in Ireland being sold and Anthony living permanently in London. He gradually became less mobile but nevertheless went out as often as he could. He was a generous host, entertaining at home, and hosting lunch parties at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, and at Brooks’s Club. It says much about him that over a hundred people attended his 90th birthday party at Brooks’s.

(PS 46-51)