Career
Educated at Blundell"s School and latterly at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Pillar joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1942 during World World War World War II He was promoted to sub-lieutenant (Engineering Branch) on 1 June 1944. An acting lieutenant at the war"s end, he was promoted to substantive lieutenant (East) on 3 June 1947 (seniority 1 October 1945). Following service in the Korean War he was promoted to lieutenant-commander (East) on 1 October 1953, to commander (East) on 31 December 1958 and to captain (East) on 31 December 1966.
He was appointed Assistant to the Director-General, Ships in 1970 and Commander of the Royal Naval Engineering College in 1973.
Promoted to vice-admiral on 2 April 1979, he became the first Royal Navy engineer officer to be Chief of Fleet Support. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1980 Queen"s Birthday Honours list, and was promoted to admiral on 5 January 1982.
In 1982, he became Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies. On retirement from the Royal Navy he became Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Jersey.
