Sir Robert Richard Taylor, KCVO, OBE (1932–2008) was a British public administrator, airport manager and Royal Air Force officer. Taylor was born on 14 June 1932 in Birmingham. After attending Yardley Grammar School, he joined the RAF in 1952 as a pilot, specialising in reconnaissance. He served in Egypt that year, and then in Kenya two years later (during the Mau Mau Uprising). In 1955, he became an instructor. And then spent spells in Canberra and Laarbruch until 1964, when he was posted in Singapore and promoted to Flight Lieutenant. After two years gathering intelligence in Borneo, he returned to Britain and then, in 1969, took command of in Canberra. He served there until 1972 and retired the following year, having been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.