Anderson, James Scott

October 15th, 2005 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | No Comments »

James Scott (Andy) Anderson

It is with sadness that I report the death of Andy Anderson on 24^th July 2005.

Andy was born in Welwyn Garden City on 10^th March 1925 and attended Alleynes school until 1940, then the Thames Nautical Training College (Worcester). He then joined P&O and was appointed to the troopship Strathnaver. During his cadetship his trips took him to the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Salerno and Anzio. In 1953 he married Mary, whom he first met when she was a nurse on the same ship. He later applied for and was offered a post as a licensed North Channel Trinity House Pilot based at Harwich In 1963 he moved with his family to the then rapidly expanding port of Milford Haven and piloted there until he took up an appointment at Puerto Armuelles with Petroterminal de Panama (the southern transhipment terminal for the Alaska run) In 1984 he retired back to Milford Haven, moving again in 1990 to Market Drayton to be near his family.

Andy, when not exercising his rude sense of humour, was very much the English gentleman and a man of strong convictions. His interests were in his garden from which no visiting lady left without an African violet or gentleman without the admonition to “get yourself some rhubarb” and holidaying on the Norwegian coastal steamers for which he had a particular attraction Mary predeceased Andy by 6 years so that left to mourn him were his daughter Helen, son Andrew and two grandchildren He faced his terminal illness with great stoicism and was quite happy with his bed being his last VLCC. His wardrobe the last 80k tonner coming towards him and telling Nos. 2&3 to ease off and 1&4 to take the strain as he approached the berth of his bedside table.

Helen and Andrew were a great comfort to him in his dying days. I too will miss

him. He was an excellent pilot, colleague and friend

Brian Ball,

Retired Milford Haven pilot