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PALS Rick Jolly Tribute

18 January 2018

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Surgeon-Captain Rick Jolly OBE - previously an Honorary Research Fellow in UCL PALS - at his home near Torpoint aged 71.

Rick Jolly

Rick joined UCL PALS following discussions between the late Ken Corkindale (then the Principal Psychologist of the RN Psychology Service) and Bob Audley (considered by many as the founding father of UCL PALS).

Rick, because of his standing, was able to interview many senior naval officers serving in the Falklands to observe performance, mental disturbance and errors in troops.

When asked about Rick, Bob Audley said the following: "Rick, you could hardly avoid noticing, was an extroverted and larger than usual in physical size and personality. Among other publications he produced an entertaining dictionary of naval slang having a number of definitions which Sam Johnson would have appreciated."

Rick was appointed an OBE by the Queen, and awarded the Orden de Mayo (Order of May) by Argentina for his service during the war.

Surgeon Commander Anthony Lambert met him several times, the first time shortly after he returned from the Falklands in 1982 and said: "As medics, we aren't heroes, we just do our job. But Rick did his job incredibly well and was an inspiration to my generation".

Rick Jolly 2

Tributes on social media include the commanding officer of the Royal Marines 40 Commando who called him a "true hero". Gulf war veteran John Nichol has also posted on Twitter, calling him "a true hero of 1982 Falklands war".

Find out more about Rick and his amazing life by visiting the links below.