Can't remember any of the Engineer Commodores but the two Commodore Masters in the early 80's were Buckley and Wharrie

 

Hi Graham,
as I mentioned in another thread W L Pugh late 60's early 70's and as mentioned above J B Wharrie late 70's early 80's.
No other definite names come to mind at the moment.
George

 

Ronald Friendship on British Argosy 1968

 

Alan Davies in the 70's

 

Still working on them , this is what I have so far.

Graham.

Commodore
T Copeman, retired 1963/4?
HI McMichael OBE, posted 1957?, retired 1959?
GR Mott OBE, posted 1959/60 (replaced HI McMichael OBE), retired ca. May 1961
CWG Stook, ca. May 1961, OBE Jan 1962,
A Henney OBE, posted 18th Dec 1962
EJ Cole, posted 10th Sept 1963, retired ca. May 1964
HG Jeary, posted 7th Dec 1965
R Friendship , ca 1968?
WL Pugh, posted 16th Oct 1971, retired ?1974
A Davies , 74(4 years) , retired 7/78
DG Buckley, posted 7/78,
JB Wharrie late 1970’s early 80’s?

Engineering Commodore
Mr PJ Hyde OBE, retired ca. May 1961
Mr S Porter, posted ca. May 1961
Mr S Davidson, retired ca. May 1964
Mr J Johnson, posted 1st July 1964, OBE posted Jan 1966,
J Sutton, ca 1974

 

I understood Bob Rowntree was Fleet Commodore on the Br. Admiral when I was Senior Cadet on her: August 72/January 73.

We always had to fly a pennant for'd in port etc to show the Commodore was aboard ..... I think!

 

captain R M Rowntree (ginger)

I understood Bob Rowntree was Fleet Commodore just to let you know ROBERT ROWNTREE past away on wednesday july9 th 2014 in north ferriby aged 94 years old .on the Br. Admiral when I was Senior Cadet on her: August 72/January 73.

We always had to fly a pennant for'd in port etc to show the Commodore was aboard ..... I think!

just to let you know Capt robert rowntree (ginger) died aged 94 in north ferriby near hull on july 9 2014.

 

Derek,
Can you remember what the pennant looked like?
I've never sailed with a Commodore Master, but I presume BP followed the practice of other companies and used a burgee/swallowtail version of the house flag?

 

Yes, it was a swallow-tail burgee of the BP house flag .. up until about 12 years ago I had one in my old MN suitcase that I borrowed from the Br Admiral - but sadly all that memorabilia was disposed of in my last house move.

 

Now you mention it R Rowntree does ring a bell somewhere ,but how does he fit in those years?

An updated list, I have no information afer 1986;

Commodore
T Copeman, retired 1963/4?
HI McMichael OBE, posted 1957?, retired 1959?
GR Mott OBE, posted 1959/60 (replaced HI McMichael OBE), retired ca. May 1961
CWG Stook, ca. May 1961, OBE Jan 1962,
A Henney OBE, posted 18th Dec 1962
EJ Cole, posted 10th Sept 1963, retired ca. May 1964
HG Jeary, posted 7th Dec 1965
C Colbourne, posted ?, retired 1968
R Friendship , ca 1968?
WL Pugh, posted 16th Oct 1971, retired ?1974
A Davies , 1974 (4 years) , retired 7/1978
DG Buckley, posted 7/1978, retired March1981
JB Wharrie Posted Feb 1981,

Engineering Commodore
Mr PJ Hyde OBE, retired ca. May 1961
Mr S Porter, posted ca. May 1961
Mr S Davidson, retired ca. May 1964
Mr J Johnson, posted 1st July 1964, OBE posted Jan 1966, Retd?
J Sutton, ca 1971
P McKenna, posted 1975, retired 1981
A Fewkes, posted Oct 1981, retired ? (died 2012)

Graham

 

Capt Dick Higgins early 80's and maybe the last prior to flagging out in the mid 80's. Eng commodore Tag Smith mid late 70s

 

Does anyone recall Capt. S.R. (Sid)Garret who was a friend and colleague of mine
at Fleetwood Nautical College?

 

I sailed with Sid when he was C/O on the Osprey. Lovely chap.

I was a phase 2 deck cadet by then and there was a male cadet and another female cadet too (the only one I ever met or sailed with), Vanessa Birtwhistle.

 

" Lovely chap."

You got that right, Nina.

One of the very best.

 

Top man!
Sailed with Sid several times as mate and then Master.
Great sense of humour.

 

"Great sense of humour."

Class 1 Scouse style.

 

What were/are the qualifications and or experience to make commodore. Apart from the title did any perks go with the job? Don't think we had any commodore firemen greasers.

 

Knowing the Deck side, I would guess longevity without cock up.
It was probably worth another £300 a year in my day (1968) and a load of scrambled egg on the peak of his hat.
I sailed with two, one an absolute Gentleman and Officer and the other a horny handed son of the sail who had more seamanship in his little finger than a whole boat load of RN Commodores, but you wouldn't take him home to Mother.
I don't think merit came into it much. One Master I sailed with became Commodore later on and he wasn't much cop in the leadership stakes. Blamed us Engineers for everything.
The wily Chief asked us all to put in for leave at the same time and quote stress as the reason.
The Old Man backed down at full astern. He could smell a cock up coming his way.

 

Didn't Charlie Colbourn follow Ronnie Friendship as Commodore?

 

The other way round I think?

 

Some additions in Red as follows

Commodore
T Copeman, retired 1963/4?. Obit Feb 1965 Fleet news
HI McMichael OBE, posted 1957?, retired 1959?
GR Mott OBE, posted 1959/60 (replaced HI McMichael OBE), retired ca. May 1961
CWG Stook, ca. May 1961, OBE Jan 1962,
A Henney OBE, posted 18th Dec 1962
EJ Cole, posted 10th Sept 1963, retired ca. May 1964
HG Jeary, posted 7th Dec 1965
C Colbourne, posted ?, retired 1968
R Friendship , ca 1968?
WL Pugh, posted 16th Oct 1971, retired ?1974
A Davies , 1974 (4 years) , retired 7/1978
DG Buckley, posted 7/1978, retired March1981
JB Wharrie Posted Feb 1981,

Engineering Commodore
Mr PJ Hyde OBE, retired ca. May 1961
Mr S Porter, posted ca. May 1961
Mr S Davidson, retired ca. May 1964
Mr J Johnson, posted 1st July 1964, OBE posted Jan 1966, Retd?
J Sutton, ca 1971
P McKenna, posted 1975, retired 1981
A Fewkes, posted Oct 1981, retired ? (died 2012)

Unknown service times ; Commodores, SD Bumstead OBE and A Preece OBE ( all obits in Feb 1965 FN)


Thats the lot, probably never come across anymore

Graham

 

So where does Capt R Rowntree (Br Admiral) fit into this ... or was he never 'officially' Commodore?

 

When Cdr. Wharrie retired he was replaced by the Master who served on "Gas Enterprise" - can't remember his name at the moment - would be about 1983 that he was posted if you have any Fleet News from that era. (Only know because I was in "British Respect" as first trip Engineer Cadet then and the Master on Respect thought he was in the frame for it.).

 

Duncan, I have all of 1983.

The 'Master' of the Gas Enterprise was Comm RJ Higgins, I do not think I have ever noticed that title before, but then I was never specifically looking for it.

The unfortunate one was N(Noel)D Brookes, he was a 1950 Navigating Apprentice ( British Harmony). I came across him in 2003 ,he was living in Northern Island and I'm pretty sure he died in 2009. His last BP ship was the Reliance in 1986

You are listed on the Respect with 4 other EC's, do you want a copy?

Graham

 

I'd love a copy please Graham - yes it was Capt. Brookes, always struck me as a fair man who ran a happy ship - sorry to hear of his death.

 

Duncan,
Will do.

Graham

 

I have been reading some posts referring to my father (Captain/Commodore Alan Davies) with some disgust, as he is unable to defend himself. At the age of 91 and in failing health & never having used a computer, he cannot reply to the malicious comments made about him.

R M Davies. C/Eng. Ex BPTC, GECO (Norwegian Seismic) & currently PG Tankers.

 

I feel that I must respond to your post as I was one of the poster’s who made reference to you father. I do not want to make this issue a slanging match or to be derogatory and I hope you don’t take it as such, but unknown to you, your father left a scar on me which after 45 years is still there. It still hurts, and why should I have to have this all of this time?

I sailed with him on the BR. Duchess. My first Captain was Capt. Hunter, who in the six weeks that I was with him, gave me the respect, help, advice and confidence and competence to continue my progress within my fledgling sea career. Sad to say that in the remaining 4 and a half months that I had with Capt. Davies all that was eroded. I have sailed with many people of different race, colour, creed and religion and have not had the problems that I encountered with him. I’ll be the first to put up my hand and say that at times there were people I have not got on with, but, I have never destroyed their core values. I joined my first ship Br. Destiny in Falmouth. My C/O was Tony Maskell, who gave me a guidance, respect, patience, support and confidence when I didn’t know the difference between the sharp and the blunt end. For what Tony Maskell did, enabled me to have core principles to continue with, after I left BP and progressed into a different working life. Another person who left a different mark!

Other posters have left different observations, some of which agree or disagree. That is their choice. Perhaps there are some people YOU would like to meet again, others you might not, but although we are talking of something from an era that was 45yrs ago, it is still fresh in my mind and it still hurts that my confidence and competence was eroded in such a way. Thankfully, I have been able to progress and regain what was lost.

I don’t deny you the fact that you would worship your father, in the same way that my daughter worships me as a father, or the fact that every father is put on a pedestal by their siblings. Your relationship and defence of your father is to be admired but is not the issue here.

I am not a frequent poster, but a very regular reader of the Forum. If the moderators feel that this is too contentious a response I am happy for them to ‘pull it’. I just hope it shows you where I am coming from because apart from that one ship, my time at sea was enjoyable and rewarding, but the scar is still there.

 

... I have just seen this posting and I wholeheartedly agree with Aitch in all he has said..... I too have posted on the other thread as I was a Nav App with Mr Davies father aboard British Vigilance .....a very very unhappy trip. That so many should have had the same experience with a person and some 40 - 50 years later have the same opinion is in my experience most unusual and speaks volumes. Sorry but there it is.

 

Well said!!

 

Was there a Commodore N.Rutherford in the late 70's ?

 

John, Both Nick Rutherford and Cocoa Rowntree (Br Admiral ) were entitled to fly the RNR Ensign but when I sailed with them niether of these fine Gentlemen was the Commodore of the BP Fleet.
I also served with the last Commodore Dick Higgins whose final appointment was with the Lay up unit in Labuan.

 

I Graham. I sailed with Capt c.r. Cole on the British statesman in 1961 I was under the impression he was referred to as Commodre ? initials may be wrong can`t make them out. Mike

 

I sailed with CDRE ? E.J. Cole on the British Duchess in July 1962 as 2/O then he was relieved by J.R. (Windy) Gale whose wife at the time lived in New York. Windy would only put his teeth in if she was aboard or when we picked up a Pilot!
Tony Maskell

 

In September 1962 I joined British Bombardier and was left in no doubt that Tommy Copeman was Commodore