Sunk by his patriotic shorts: Rear Admiral quits after f launting boxers in Zoom chat
Defence and Security Editor
A DECORATED former Rear Admiral has quit as head of a Ministry of Defence agency after he exposed his Union Jack-emblazoned boxer shorts on a work video call.
Tim Lowe, 57, who was awarded a CBE in 2017, shocked colleagues when he stood up at the end of the Zoom meeting to reveal his underwear over his trousers, similar to the look sported by film character Superman.
The MoD launched an inquiry into the incident – which friends said was a joke to raise spirits – after complaints and he decided to hand in his resignation from the marine agency.
Mr Lowe, who was the UK maritime commander in Bahrain in 2010, has been pictured alongside Princess Anne and Gavin Williamson when he was Defence Secretary.
Last night Navy sources said he ‘had a reputation for wearing funny clothes’ and would wear Hawaiian shirts for dress-down Fridays.
‘It was June and the height of the pandemic and he had his Union Flag boxers over his trousers on a Zoom call,’ an insider told the Mail.
‘A few people on the call found it inappropriate so they made a complaint and an investigation started but he resigned.
‘Fundamentally some people were offended by it and he realised it wasn’t right and proper for him to do it so he apologised and resigned.’
A source told The Sun that Mr
Lowe, of Cullompton, Devon, was simply wearing the underwear as a joke to raise spirits.
He worked for the Navy for more than 30 years before giving up his naval duties and responsibilities when he left in 2015 to join the
MoD. Mr Lowe has now stepped down from his position as chief executive of the Ministry’s UK Hydrographic Office.
He was only appointed in 2019 and had been in the role for less than a year.
A Ministry spokesman said: ‘The MoD is an open and inclusive employer and we do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour.
‘Tim Lowe has resigned from his role at the UK Hydrographic Office for personal reasons and it would be inappropriate to comment further.’
‘Reputation for funny clothes’