Obituaries 2025
I bring the sad news that Alan Hale, retired Purser with P&O, died on the 20th of February at the age of 94.
After completing his National Service in the Army where he served in Germany, Alan joined P&O in 1951 as a Junior Assistant Purser in CHITRAL (1).
He spent the whole of his subsequent career at sea with P&O, becoming Deputy Purser in 1959 and finally Purser in 1966 aboard CHITRAL (2). He also sailed as Purser in CHUSAN, ARCADIA, CANBERRA, ORIANA (1), PACIFIC PRINCESS and ROYAL PRINCESS. His last appointment prior to his retirement in 1990 was to SEA PRINCESS.
Alan had always enjoyed gardening and in retirement he became a full-time amateur gardener. He created a beautiful garden and he became passionate about growing clematis, cultivating around 200 of these plants. He periodically opened his garden to the public and was also involved with the local garden society.
His wife Sylvia (Stevens) was a former Nursing Sister with P&O. Sadly, she died in 2018.
Private cremation will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at 1:00 pm on Monday 14th April at St Lawrence Church, 2 Old Manor Gardens, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, GL55 6RZ. Afterwards, there will be a buffet lunch at the Three Ways House Hotel, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, GL55 6SB, a short walk from the church.
The family have requested that those attending come in colourful clothing and wear a garden flower.
If you plan to attend please email: kathrynalees@icloud.com to provide the family with an indication of numbers to expect.
Derek Warmington
After completing his National Service in the Army where he served in Germany, Alan joined P&O in 1951 as a Junior Assistant Purser in CHITRAL (1).
He spent the whole of his subsequent career at sea with P&O, becoming Deputy Purser in 1959 and finally Purser in 1966 aboard CHITRAL (2). He also sailed as Purser in CHUSAN, ARCADIA, CANBERRA, ORIANA (1), PACIFIC PRINCESS and ROYAL PRINCESS. His last appointment prior to his retirement in 1990 was to SEA PRINCESS.
Alan had always enjoyed gardening and in retirement he became a full-time amateur gardener. He created a beautiful garden and he became passionate about growing clematis, cultivating around 200 of these plants. He periodically opened his garden to the public and was also involved with the local garden society.
His wife Sylvia (Stevens) was a former Nursing Sister with P&O. Sadly, she died in 2018.
Private cremation will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at 1:00 pm on Monday 14th April at St Lawrence Church, 2 Old Manor Gardens, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, GL55 6RZ. Afterwards, there will be a buffet lunch at the Three Ways House Hotel, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, GL55 6SB, a short walk from the church.
The family have requested that those attending come in colourful clothing and wear a garden flower.
If you plan to attend please email: kathrynalees@icloud.com to provide the family with an indication of numbers to expect.
Derek Warmington
News has been received that John Tratt, former Coxswain, died on the 2nd February at the age of 79.
John joined P&O in October 1990 and during the years that followed up until his retirement he sailed in CANBERRA, ORIANA (2), VICTORIA and ADONIA.
The funeral will take place at 4:00 pm on Thursday the 6th March at Barham Crematorium, Canterbury Road, Barham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6QU. Afterwards, refreshments will be available at “The Ship Centurion”, 111 High Street, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1AY.
Derek Warmington
John joined P&O in October 1990 and during the years that followed up until his retirement he sailed in CANBERRA, ORIANA (2), VICTORIA and ADONIA.
The funeral will take place at 4:00 pm on Thursday the 6th March at Barham Crematorium, Canterbury Road, Barham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6QU. Afterwards, refreshments will be available at “The Ship Centurion”, 111 High Street, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1AY.
Derek Warmington
I have received the sad news of Bob Eaton’s death from his wife, Dinah, who has summarised his life and career as follows:
“Bob was born on 4 April 1940 in Bexleyheath, Kent and attended the London Choir School before joining HMS WORCESTER in May 1955 for two years. This was followed by an Outward Bound Course at Eskdale in the Lake District before joining P&O as a Cadet.
His first ship was BALLARAT followed by SUNDA, ADEN and CORAMANDEL. After obtaining his 2nd Mate’s Certificate he re-joined SUNDA and between 1961 and 1962 had three collisions. Next was ORIANA followed by CHUSAN where he met Dinah, née Hastings. His next ship was IBERIA, then CANNANORE. He and Dinah were married in 1966 and he then joined ORSOVA, followed by dock staff and coastal and short cruises in SURAT, STRATHCONNON and ARCADIA, before spending most of 1968 in IBERIA.
He came ashore in 1968 working for Overseas Containers, based in London but over the next two years spent much of the time in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Tilbury as Ship-Planner. He was later based in Southampton as Manager of OCL’s Australian trade and then Cargo Manager and worldwide trade sales up to 1988.
Back under the P&O Containers flag and in London office, he was Sales Manager and Senior Business Analyst but was made redundant in 1990 so he returned to a life at sea with Geest Line sailing to and from the Caribbean islands carrying general cargo and bananas. This lasted for four years when Geest sold their ships and Bob rejoined P&O Containers but this time at sea on their container ships for three years. On retiring in 1998, he became summer relief Master with Wightlink on their Lymington to Yarmouth route for three years.
After 47 years living in Brockenhurst, Bob and Dinah moved to Milford on Sea overlooking the Solent. 12 years later, after some health problems, they moved to Tring to be near two of their three daughters. With further failing health, Bob went into a care home in November 2024 and he died on January 31st 2025 aged 84.”
Derek Warmington
“Bob was born on 4 April 1940 in Bexleyheath, Kent and attended the London Choir School before joining HMS WORCESTER in May 1955 for two years. This was followed by an Outward Bound Course at Eskdale in the Lake District before joining P&O as a Cadet.
His first ship was BALLARAT followed by SUNDA, ADEN and CORAMANDEL. After obtaining his 2nd Mate’s Certificate he re-joined SUNDA and between 1961 and 1962 had three collisions. Next was ORIANA followed by CHUSAN where he met Dinah, née Hastings. His next ship was IBERIA, then CANNANORE. He and Dinah were married in 1966 and he then joined ORSOVA, followed by dock staff and coastal and short cruises in SURAT, STRATHCONNON and ARCADIA, before spending most of 1968 in IBERIA.
He came ashore in 1968 working for Overseas Containers, based in London but over the next two years spent much of the time in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Tilbury as Ship-Planner. He was later based in Southampton as Manager of OCL’s Australian trade and then Cargo Manager and worldwide trade sales up to 1988.
Back under the P&O Containers flag and in London office, he was Sales Manager and Senior Business Analyst but was made redundant in 1990 so he returned to a life at sea with Geest Line sailing to and from the Caribbean islands carrying general cargo and bananas. This lasted for four years when Geest sold their ships and Bob rejoined P&O Containers but this time at sea on their container ships for three years. On retiring in 1998, he became summer relief Master with Wightlink on their Lymington to Yarmouth route for three years.
After 47 years living in Brockenhurst, Bob and Dinah moved to Milford on Sea overlooking the Solent. 12 years later, after some health problems, they moved to Tring to be near two of their three daughters. With further failing health, Bob went into a care home in November 2024 and he died on January 31st 2025 aged 84.”
Thanksgiving service to celebrate Bob’s life on
Thursday 27 February at 11am
Bierton Crematorium
Cane End Lane, Bierton, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 5BH
followed by a gathering and buffet lunch between 12pm and 4pm at
The Barn, Hulcott Lane, Hulcott, Bierton, Aylesbury HP22 5GA
Please let Dinah know at dinah@b683.net if you plan to come to the gathering.
Donations
Rather than floral tributes, the family have asked for donations to Bob’s chosen charities, more details here.
Live-stream
The service will be live-streamed, you can watch by clicking the link here and logging in with Username: mago8528 and Password: 549303. You can also watch the service for up to 28 days afterwards.
Those of you who knew him, will be saddened to learn that Derek Houghton, former Accommodation Officer, died on the 18th January in Poole Hospital. He was 94 and had been in poor health for some time.
After leaving school, Derek did his National Service in the Army, serving with the 1st Royal Dragoons in Germany.
In 1952 he went to sea as a Steward/Messman in the P&O ship MALOJA. In the years that followed he sailed with a number of different companies including the New Zealand Shipping Company in RUAHINE, and Shaw Savill in GOTHIC. In 1959 he returned to P&O as a Bedroom Steward in ARCADIA and remained with P&O and Princess Cruises for the rest of his career serving at some point in most ships of the fleet.
While serving in ORIANA (1) in 1965 he was promoted to 3rd Steward and later he moved up to become an Accommodation Supervisor until 1979 when this position was upgraded to Accommodation Officer.
In 1982, he was Accommodation Officer on board UGANDA during the Falklands conflict.
His last appointment before he retired was to PACIFIC PRINCESS in 1990.
In his retirement, for a period in the 1990s, he ran his own recruitment consultancy, recruiting staff for the Cruising industry.
The funeral will be private.
After leaving school, Derek did his National Service in the Army, serving with the 1st Royal Dragoons in Germany.
In 1952 he went to sea as a Steward/Messman in the P&O ship MALOJA. In the years that followed he sailed with a number of different companies including the New Zealand Shipping Company in RUAHINE, and Shaw Savill in GOTHIC. In 1959 he returned to P&O as a Bedroom Steward in ARCADIA and remained with P&O and Princess Cruises for the rest of his career serving at some point in most ships of the fleet.
While serving in ORIANA (1) in 1965 he was promoted to 3rd Steward and later he moved up to become an Accommodation Supervisor until 1979 when this position was upgraded to Accommodation Officer.
In 1982, he was Accommodation Officer on board UGANDA during the Falklands conflict.
His last appointment before he retired was to PACIFIC PRINCESS in 1990.
In his retirement, for a period in the 1990s, he ran his own recruitment consultancy, recruiting staff for the Cruising industry.
The funeral will be private.
Derek Warmington
P&O Pensioners
