It is with deep sadness that the Submarines Association of Australia (SAA) advises members of the passing of former member Clive “Polly” Lloyd, who died in North Queensland in early June this year.

Clive was born on 1 March 1948 in Bramhall, Cheshire, England, the son of William and Pearl Lloyd and brother of Anita. The family emigrated to Australia in 1951. A product of Drummoyne High School in Sydney, Clive enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy on 8 January 1964 as a Junior Recruit, undertaking his initial training at HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle, Western Australia. He graduated 12 months later as an Ordinary Seaman Cook and, along with 29 other Junior Recruits, joined the World War II-vintage hydrographic survey ship HMAS Diamantina, based in Western Australia. The Junior Recruits—likely among the first to join the ship—greatly impressed the commanding officer, LCDR P. Hollaway RAN, with their enthusiasm.

In March 1965, Diamantina proceeded to the Montebello Islands to participate in Operation Cool Off, almost certainly a mission to monitor nuclear contamination following the atomic bomb tests conducted there in the 1950s. The tasking was to be followed by a port visit to Onslow, but a tropical cyclone forced the ship to return to Fremantle. Over the following three months, Diamantina conducted hydrographic survey work, with visits to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Mauritius, before returning to Fremantle. Clive remained aboard Diamantina until October 1965, when he was posted to HMAS Watson at South Head, Sydney, for formal training as a cook. He was advanced to Cook 2nd Class in January 1966 and to Cook 1st Class (Able Seaman) in August 1966. Upon completion of his cook’s course, Clive was posted to the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, where he served until July 1968.

In early 1968, Clive volunteered for submarines and travelled to the United Kingdom in July of that year to train at HMS Dolphin in Gosport, England. He completed his at- sea training aboard the A-class submarines HMS Alaric and HMS Alcide, qualifying and receiving his Dolphins in July 1969 before returning to Australia that September. He later served on HMAS Otway in 1970–71, HMAS Ovens in 1973, and HMAS Onslow in 1974–75. He was discharged from the RAN at the end of his engagement in January 1976, with the rank of Leading Cook.

At the time of his discharge, Clive was living in Marayong, New South Wales, and was married to Karline (née McGuire). Karline predeceased him in 2018.

Clive joined the Submarine Association in 1992 while living in Wollongong, later moving to Airlie Beach, Queensland, where he became well known as a taxi owner and a vocal advocate for taxi drivers in the Whitsunday region.

He passed away suddenly in Airlie Beach in early June 2026 at the age of 78.

The SAA extends its heartfelt condolences to Clive’s family and friends.