Obituaries

Lea, Clifford G.

July 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Clifford G. Lea

Clifford G. Lea, attended school in Simla and then underwent cadet training on HMS Conway. prior to joining Blue Star Line. During the 2^nd World War, he was torpedoed whilst serving on board Imperial Star. Following the war in 1947 Clifford married his wife Cathy in Buenos Aires. In 1955 Clifford joined Everards whilst awaiting to be called for Trinity House pilotage and was licensed as a Channel pilot on 8^th May 1956. During his service Clifford represented pilots to Trinity House and following retirement in 1985 he served as the Secretary to the Trinity House Channel Pilots’ Association for 16 years.

Clifford leaves behind his wife, Cathy, his sons: John and Peter and daughter:

Veronica and grandchildren: Edward, Alice, Lucy, Jo and Kit.

As Chairman of the THCPA I miss him for his ef.ciency as secretary and as a friend I miss him.

Donald Maclean

Hooker, Ray

July 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Ray Hooker

The death was reported of retired Trinity House Pilotage Service Deputy Engineering Superintendent, Ray Hooker, on 18^th January 2005. He was 72. Read the rest of this entry »

MacArthur, Donald

July 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Donald MacArthur

It is with a great deal of sadness that I write to inform that Donald MacArthur, after a very short illness, died on 22 March, 2005. Read the rest of this entry »

Mehrkens, Hein

July 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Hein Mehrkens

It is with sadness that we have to report that Captain Hein Mehrkens, President of IMPA, passed away peacefully at his home and in the company of his family on Sunday, 16^th May. Read the rest of this entry »

Yarrow, John George

July 15th, 2005 by JCB
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John George Yarrow

It is with regret that I report the death of John Yarrow on the 3^rd of January 2005. John was born in South Shields on the 5^th of May 1933. Read the rest of this entry »

Lee, Martin

April 15th, 2005 by JCB
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MARTIN LEE

Last “Grand Mat’’ of the AICH (UK branch)

View the original illustrated pdf article:

https://pilotmag.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/pilotmag-281-final.pdf

It is with sadness that I have to report the passing away of retired Trinity House (latterly Medway) pilot Martin Lee. Many will remember Martin for his enthusiasm for the “wind ships”, one of the last of which was the Passat where Martin served much of his apprenticeship in the late 1940s. Read the rest of this entry »

MacNeil, Neil

January 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Neil MacNeil

It is with sadness that I report the death of Captain Neil MacNeil of Barra on the 12^th

October at his home in CastleBay. Neil was a most respected and well loved person, both in his private life and by his colleagues in the Trinity House Channel pilots service at Gravesend. Read the rest of this entry »

Duhig, Joseph Thomas

January 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Joseph Thomas Duhig

Joseph Thomas Duhig died peacefully on the 17^th October 2004 after a six month illness spent in Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, Kent.

Born in 1932, Joe spent his early years in South London. At the age of thirteen he went to the London Nautical School and subsequently joined his first ship the Harpathian of JC Harrisons, in 1949. The ship had a full Geordie crew and as a raw 16year old he joked that he found the dialect a little difficult, but reckoned he had got the hang of it after the fourteen month trip was up. Joe subsequently sailed on Harrisons’ tramps to many interesting parts of the world. True to character he kept a detailed record of his ships and the ports visited; a record his grandchildren will no doubt value in the years to come.  Joe gained his Masters ticket in 1959 and while waiting to be called to the Trinity House Pilotage Service he sailed as Master on dredgers; his last command being the Bowqueen. He was licensed as a London River Pilot in September 1966, and continued through the changes of October 1988 until his retirement in November 1996.

Joe was a modest and quiet man who lived his life at a gentle pace. He was never hurried or stressed; he drove slow ships for a living, drove slow cars for pleasure and could spend all day reading the paper and doing the crossword – he knew how to be busy doing nothing. Ships and the sea were his love, his life and his passion. His other great passion was his family. He held traditional family values and leaves behind a wife, two sons, a daughter and two grandchildren.

Joe was a humble man who always displayed a calm air of contentment about whatever cards life had dealt him- one of life’s gentlemen. It was fitting that he spent the last six months of his life in a ward with a panoramic view of the river he had served for over 30 years. In a simple ceremony attended by his family and some of his close friends Joe’s ashes were scattered on the London River from one of the Port of London Authority’s river cutters.

Mark Duhig

Gasperinin, Gianfranco

January 15th, 2005 by JCB
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Captain Gianfranco Gasperini (1943 – 2004)

It was a huge shock, and it was with tremendous sadness that we heard that EMPA President Captain Gianfranco Gasperini had died after a very short illness at his home in Rome on Saturday 6^th November 2004. He died just before his sixty-first birthday, being born on the 16^th of November 1943 at Ponte Buggianese (Pistoia), Italy.

How well the members of the EMPA Executive remember his joining us at the Liverpool General Meeting of 1991 as an EMPA vice-President. This quietly spoken man, always smiling, slightly shy, but who immediately and enthusiastically took on the role of EMPA Treasurer. It was my particular good fortune to have had those years on the Executive working with Gianfranco. I particularly appreciated his unstinting support during my term as EMPA President. Not only was he a hard working Executive officer, but he was also an interesting, charming, modest, scholarly man to work with.

But it was not all about work and after our daytime meetings in Antwerp it was also a real pleasure for us to enjoy the social camaraderie of his company during our evenings together. He enjoyed his tennis tremendously and was a good and enthusiastic player. He personified that attribute of most pilots, to be European, not to be parochial, and to mix convivially with his pilot colleagues from all nations.  No one who met him, as many pilots from the UKMPA did over his years on the EMPA Executive, could but immediately sense the gentle charm and courtesy of this man. Quintessentially Italian by nature he was however quietly and gently spoken and whilst, like all of us, sometimes perturbed at events in the pilotage world he never ever showed his discord by anything other then a slight furrowing of his brow and the measured use of a more serious tone of voice.

He proved to be the consummate Treasurer, always producing immaculate accounts, and from the beginning computer generated, as he was a great enthusiast for technological innovation.  And at our Executive committees he would always gently steer us in a direction to ensure that we remained within the budget whenever we considered our future activities. This was but a foretaste of his ability to act in the best interest of his European colleagues, which he was to demonstrate further when he later became EMPA President.

Although heavily committed as the Fedepiloti Secretary-General he gallantly allowed his candidature for the post as EMPA President to go forward and was duly elected, unopposed, at the Paris General Meeting in 2001. His Presidency was marked by all the qualities he had shown over his ten years on the Executive and was met by some difficult situations, not least the attempt by the Commissioner to introduce the Port Services Directive.  His successful opposition to this ill-judged Directive was a tribute to his untiring efforts on behalf of his pilot colleagues.  Then, latterly, he also became the Fedepiloti President where he ably and enthusiastically represented our friends and colleagues the Italian pilots with a dedication and commitment, which served them so well.

He was an extremely hard working unselfish man who was dedicated to achieving the best for pilots and pilotage all across Europe, and also internationally through his support for IMPA. His contribution to pilotage matters not just in the interests of pilots, but equally in the interests of mariners, shipowners and port authorities will be sorely missed.

His funeral was held on Monday 8^th of November at 10.30 in the small Franciscan church of “San Francesco a Ripa”, Piazza San Francesco a Ripa, Rome. Secretary-General, Albert Cools, with his wife Mady, and Administrative Secretary, Claire van Lokerens attended the funeral on behalf of EMPA. Unfortunately, due to the very short notice of the funeral, more representatives of EMPA and the world of pilotage were unable to attend, but I am sure that like me many others were there with his family and friends if only in spirit.  I am sure that you will all share with me in the heartfelt and sincere offer of our condolences to his lovely wife Lydia and their son Paolo, following in his father’s footsteps as a pilot, and his beautiful sparkling daughter Serena. A light has gone out in their lives and they will miss him terribly, a husband and father. Our deepest condolences also go to all the staff and pilots of Fedepiloti where his loss will be felt so tremendously after all his dedicated years of service.

We mourn Gianfranco’s untimely death, the world of pilotage, and indeed the world in general is the poorer for his passing. We will remember him always with admiration and huge affection as a great ambassador for pilots wherever he went, but most of all; we will remember him just as a lovely man whom it was always huge fun and a privilege to be with.

Geoff Topp

Twells, Donald

October 15th, 2004 by JCB
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Donald F. Twells 1934 – 2004

Died 15th June 2004

Don was born on 21^st March, 1934. He was educated at Prescott Grammar School and joined HMS Conway in September 1949 at the age of 15, where he was an excellent student and cross country runner.  On leaving the ‘The Conway’ he sailed with Clan Line before joining the Liverpool Pilot Service in 1952 and served as an apprentice on the pilot vessels for 7 years. In 1959 Donald gained his 3^rd Class Licence and became 1^st Class in 1963. He worked as pilot until 1988, when the Government made changes to pilotage and he started a new job with the Mersey Docks & Harbour Co. in the VTS. During his time as a pilot he worked as a representative and as one of the small team organising social events.

Outside of pilotage, Donald will be particularly remembered for the 28 years work he did setting up and running the local Sea Scouts, where he passed on his knowledge of boat management and comradeship with enthusiasm and good humour. He became Assistant District Commissioner; was awarded a medal of merit for outstanding service and a silver acorn for especially distinguished service.  Through his interest in first aid he became an expert on exposure recovery and hypothermia. Somehow, he also found time for his garden of which he was very proud, and which he opened to the public on occasions, and became the President of the local Horticultural Society.

Donald was a devoted family man and leaves behind his wife Norma and three sons. Donald will be truly missed and fondly remembered for the way in which he embraced life to the full.

Andy Malcolm,

Retired Liverpool Pilot