Colin Alfred Rhodes 1922 – 2009

June 25th, 2009 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | No Comments »

Colin was born in Bethseda, North Wales on 24^th April 1922. His childhood was spent in Dovercourt and then in Lowestoft when his father, Captain Leslie Rhodes, took up the position Harbour Master there. Never a committed scholar he much preferred messing about in boats, being a keen Sea Scout, canoeist and yachtsmen. Naturally his life was to be the sea and he was apprenticed to the Port Line in January 1939 sailing out on his first voyage on the Port Denison.

WWII was declared whilst Colin was on board his second ship, the Port Hobart. He survived the war unscathed but sadly many of his ships were sunk just after he had left them. The heavy toll of good men shortened his apprenticeship to 3 years. He remained with Port Line obtaining his Certificates and good promotion sailed as temporary Master of his last ship before joining Trinity House in 1953 as pilot at Lowestoft.

In 1954 he joined the Medway Pilots and remained there until retirement in 1987.

Although not a religious man, Colin was a spiritual one, believing his legacy would survive through his children and his deeds. His marriage to Charlotte in 1957, one son, two daughters and eight grandchildren are testament to one, and his tireless work for pilots in general another.

In those self employed days pilots were not paid for union work and had to make up their turns after a day off. Colin represented the Medway Pilots in the London Pilots Council and the UKPA, eventually taking on the President’s role. Under Colin’s Chairmanship of the UKPA Executive along with TGWU Brethren, the PNPF was established – many a pilot should raise their glass to him on a monthly basis for this.

One notable event during his tenure as President was to address some 1250 pilots at the Birmingham conference when relations with the ship-owners was at a low ebb.

Through the UKPA Colin became involved in EMPA at the time that the United Nations was establishing IMCO (later to become International Maritime Organisation). Upon submitting papers regarding pilot issues to IMCO they were politely informed they could not be accepted as they did not represent an international group. Thus the seeds were sewn for Colin with others including Rt. Hon. James Callaghan to form IMPA, of which he was appointed the first Senior Vice President. Through the years Colin was involved in the revision of the Collision Regulations, SoLaS Convention of 1974 and the first STCW Convention.

Apparently not content with this heavy commitment Colin was also instrumental in establishing the Nautical Institute, being a founder member, it’s second President and for several years its Treasurer. In his “spare time” Colin was an active member of the Freemasons taking on many senior local and provincial roles.

After a long illness stoically borne with good humour, Colin died at home 7^th March 2009.

Pilots and seamen have much to thank for Colin’s life, a legacy indeed. A good shipmate for his colleagues, a fine husband for a very understanding wife, a mentor and hero for his children and grandchildren.

John Gurton

Medway Pilot