Patricia Swallow

Daphne Patricia Swallow, (born 1931/1932) was commandant of the Women's Royal Naval Service from 1982 to 1986. A communications officer, she had followed in the footsteps of her father who served in the Royal Navy as a signals officer. Swallow also had an interest in bird watching and served as vice president of the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society. She was appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. After her 1986 retirement Swallow carried out charity work.

Naval career Daphne Patricia Swallow was the daughter of Captain Geoffrey Swallow, a Royal Navy signals officer who served aboard destroyers, including with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla. Swallow, who was known by her middle name, joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (the Wrens) at the age of 18 in 1950.

Swallow was a bird watcher and served as vice president of the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society from at least 1978 to 1984.

Swallow was one of the first women to attend the National Defence College and was the first woman to hold the position of command personnel officer at Portsmouth. Swallow was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1986 New Year Honours. She ceased to be commandant on 6 February 1986, being succeeded by Marjorie Fletcher, Swallow afterwards worked for charities and got married in 1991.