Obituaries 2026
I have received the following sad news from Richard Pocock in Australia:
“Captain Don O’Donnell ‘Crossed the Bar’ in Queensland at the age of 90 on the 16th of May 2026 after a period of ill health. He is survived by his wife Trish and sons Alex and Ash.
After leaving Training School in his late teens, Don joined P&O as a Deck Cadet and, as he gained his qualifications on his way to becoming a Master Mariner, he served with distinction as a Senior Officer in a number of P&O Passenger Ships. “Chusan was one”. He is proudly remembered for his silk waistcoats!
In time he went to Australia and during the 90s joined Australian Offshore Services which was owned by P&O, firstly serving at sea before becoming Operations Manager. He is remembered for taking to the business his professionalism, his leadership and discipline, and is fondly remembered as being both kindly and courteous. At the same time he was also a true maritime character.
In the 1970s he was heavily involved in the construction of a semi submersible oil rig, the Ocean Endeavour, at Woodman’s Point. From 1976 until 1986 he was the Harbour Master in Portland, Victoria. He then moved to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, a phosphate mining and shipping outpost, 2600 kms north west of Perth. It is administered as an External Territory of Australia and is well known for its detention centre and its squadrons of red crabs. There he was "King Pin" as the Head of the Chamber of Commerce together with his extensive maritime responsibilities.
In August of 2010 the Norwegian Wilhelmsen Line Ro Ro " TAMPA " on passage from the Sunda Straight to Singapore hove to off Flying Fish Cove, the island's capital for the 1800 population, having rescued 438 distressed asylum seekers who had boarded just one 200m fishing vessel in Indonesia. Don, whose natural inclination would have been to offer whatever assistance was required, received a call from John Howard the PM saying not to allow the ship to approach Australian waters. The Government's stated policy of that time was "We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come". Don relayed the PMs instructions to Captain Arne Rinnan aboard Tampa and the ship hove to. Ultimately, after a mammoth exchange of communications between Indonesia, Canberra, and Norway, Australian troops of the SAS boarded the ship and escorted the refugees off. The incident was to become a watershed in Australia’s modern history. Captain Rinnan was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by the King of Norway and ‘The Captain of the Year’ by the Nautical Institute. The entire crew received an award from the United Nations.
Captain Don retired to Queensland in 2017 with his wife Trish.
Richard Pocock
Master Mariner FG, FCIT”
Derek Warmington
“Captain Don O’Donnell ‘Crossed the Bar’ in Queensland at the age of 90 on the 16th of May 2026 after a period of ill health. He is survived by his wife Trish and sons Alex and Ash.
After leaving Training School in his late teens, Don joined P&O as a Deck Cadet and, as he gained his qualifications on his way to becoming a Master Mariner, he served with distinction as a Senior Officer in a number of P&O Passenger Ships. “Chusan was one”. He is proudly remembered for his silk waistcoats!
In time he went to Australia and during the 90s joined Australian Offshore Services which was owned by P&O, firstly serving at sea before becoming Operations Manager. He is remembered for taking to the business his professionalism, his leadership and discipline, and is fondly remembered as being both kindly and courteous. At the same time he was also a true maritime character.
In the 1970s he was heavily involved in the construction of a semi submersible oil rig, the Ocean Endeavour, at Woodman’s Point. From 1976 until 1986 he was the Harbour Master in Portland, Victoria. He then moved to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, a phosphate mining and shipping outpost, 2600 kms north west of Perth. It is administered as an External Territory of Australia and is well known for its detention centre and its squadrons of red crabs. There he was "King Pin" as the Head of the Chamber of Commerce together with his extensive maritime responsibilities.
In August of 2010 the Norwegian Wilhelmsen Line Ro Ro " TAMPA " on passage from the Sunda Straight to Singapore hove to off Flying Fish Cove, the island's capital for the 1800 population, having rescued 438 distressed asylum seekers who had boarded just one 200m fishing vessel in Indonesia. Don, whose natural inclination would have been to offer whatever assistance was required, received a call from John Howard the PM saying not to allow the ship to approach Australian waters. The Government's stated policy of that time was "We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come". Don relayed the PMs instructions to Captain Arne Rinnan aboard Tampa and the ship hove to. Ultimately, after a mammoth exchange of communications between Indonesia, Canberra, and Norway, Australian troops of the SAS boarded the ship and escorted the refugees off. The incident was to become a watershed in Australia’s modern history. Captain Rinnan was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by the King of Norway and ‘The Captain of the Year’ by the Nautical Institute. The entire crew received an award from the United Nations.
Captain Don retired to Queensland in 2017 with his wife Trish.
Richard Pocock
Master Mariner FG, FCIT”
Derek Warmington
Bob Frost has asked me to publish the following tribute to his wife Rosemary who has died at the age of 91 after a long illness.
“Notice has been received from Bob Frost (Orient Line purser’s officer 1957/63) that his wife Rosemary passed away on the 4thApril at their home in Franklin, Tasmania.
Rosemary joined the Orient Line as an Assistant Purser in 1961 and joined ORIANA for two voyages with Bob. She left after their engagement. Their marriage in North Wales was attended by several Orient Liners.
Bob left the Orient Line in 1963 to join Colin Marshall’s business, Hertz Rent A Car. Colin was himself an Orient Liner and went on to become Lord Marshall as CEO of British Airways.
Bob and Rosemary were sent to the Bahamas for two years before initiating the start-up of Hertz in Israel. By now they had two children and a third was born in Israel in 1967, the year of the Six Day War.
Their next posting was back to the Hertz UK operation in 1968 before Bob was appointed by Budget Rent A Car to head up their European operations. He later became President of their international business outside the USA, which included a secondment to Australia for two years. The children “came too” and stayed there when Bob and Rosemary returned to the UK.
Having previously lived in Taunton, Dawlish, Henley on Thames and Godstone, Bob and Rosemary decided on retirement to return to join their children in Australia.
Franklin in Tasmania was Rosemary’s last resting place where she spent the last 21 years of her life after a marriage of 64 years.”
Derek Warmington
“Notice has been received from Bob Frost (Orient Line purser’s officer 1957/63) that his wife Rosemary passed away on the 4thApril at their home in Franklin, Tasmania.
Rosemary joined the Orient Line as an Assistant Purser in 1961 and joined ORIANA for two voyages with Bob. She left after their engagement. Their marriage in North Wales was attended by several Orient Liners.
Bob left the Orient Line in 1963 to join Colin Marshall’s business, Hertz Rent A Car. Colin was himself an Orient Liner and went on to become Lord Marshall as CEO of British Airways.
Bob and Rosemary were sent to the Bahamas for two years before initiating the start-up of Hertz in Israel. By now they had two children and a third was born in Israel in 1967, the year of the Six Day War.
Their next posting was back to the Hertz UK operation in 1968 before Bob was appointed by Budget Rent A Car to head up their European operations. He later became President of their international business outside the USA, which included a secondment to Australia for two years. The children “came too” and stayed there when Bob and Rosemary returned to the UK.
Having previously lived in Taunton, Dawlish, Henley on Thames and Godstone, Bob and Rosemary decided on retirement to return to join their children in Australia.
Franklin in Tasmania was Rosemary’s last resting place where she spent the last 21 years of her life after a marriage of 64 years.”
Derek Warmington
Dr Katie Easterling, former Assistant Purser, has written as follows:
"News has been received that former Senior Assistant Purser Nigel Whitaker died suddenly at home on the 19th April 2026. He was 70 years of age.
Nigel had travelled extensively on cruise ships as a young man with his parents, Sidney and Elaine, who were both Port Lecturers. Nigel was very socially active in the town of Blackpool where he arranged social events, bands and was a regular Marshall at many car rallies.
After the completion of his training, Nigel obtained his Hotel Catering Qualification and became a Member of the Hotel Catering & Institutional Management Association (Part B). He joined P & 0 Cruises in the mid1970s.
He served on a number of ships, moving from Junior Assistant Purser to Assistant Purser then Senior Assistant Purser. Nigel was very well known for his role as Crew Assistant Purser. He sailed on ORIANA, UGANDA and CANBERRA amongst others.
Nigel did not take part in the Falklands campaign but he served on UGANDA post-campaign when the ship was transporting troops from Ascension Island to the Falklands. He always said it was one of the most interesting times of his career. UGANDA undertook the regular voyage from Ascension Island to the Falklands Islands before the airport was eventually built on the Falklands Islands.
His final ship was CANBERRA before he left in 1987.
After leaving P&O, he set up several small, successful businesses, one of which applied specialist coatings to the glass on ships. Nigel became Secretary of the Merchant Navy Association for some years, helping many merchant seamen. He also worked with the University of Lancaster on Master level science projects and a Merchant Navy history research project to collect and save artefacts relating to the Merchant Navy.
Details of the funeral to follow."
Derek Warmington
"News has been received that former Senior Assistant Purser Nigel Whitaker died suddenly at home on the 19th April 2026. He was 70 years of age.
Nigel had travelled extensively on cruise ships as a young man with his parents, Sidney and Elaine, who were both Port Lecturers. Nigel was very socially active in the town of Blackpool where he arranged social events, bands and was a regular Marshall at many car rallies.
After the completion of his training, Nigel obtained his Hotel Catering Qualification and became a Member of the Hotel Catering & Institutional Management Association (Part B). He joined P & 0 Cruises in the mid1970s.
He served on a number of ships, moving from Junior Assistant Purser to Assistant Purser then Senior Assistant Purser. Nigel was very well known for his role as Crew Assistant Purser. He sailed on ORIANA, UGANDA and CANBERRA amongst others.
Nigel did not take part in the Falklands campaign but he served on UGANDA post-campaign when the ship was transporting troops from Ascension Island to the Falklands. He always said it was one of the most interesting times of his career. UGANDA undertook the regular voyage from Ascension Island to the Falklands Islands before the airport was eventually built on the Falklands Islands.
His final ship was CANBERRA before he left in 1987.
After leaving P&O, he set up several small, successful businesses, one of which applied specialist coatings to the glass on ships. Nigel became Secretary of the Merchant Navy Association for some years, helping many merchant seamen. He also worked with the University of Lancaster on Master level science projects and a Merchant Navy history research project to collect and save artefacts relating to the Merchant Navy.
Details of the funeral to follow."
Derek Warmington
News has been received from Australia that Mrs Frances Williams died on the 29th March at the age of 76.
As Frances (Fran) White, she was an Entertainment Officer with P&O in the 1970s and sailed in CANBERRA, ORIANA and SEA PRINCESS. She left in the early 1980s and moved to Sydney to get married.
The funeral has already taken place.
Derek Warmington
As Frances (Fran) White, she was an Entertainment Officer with P&O in the 1970s and sailed in CANBERRA, ORIANA and SEA PRINCESS. She left in the early 1980s and moved to Sydney to get married.
The funeral has already taken place.
Derek Warmington
David passed away March 2026 in his 86th year
David was an engineer with P&O during the late 60’s through the 70’s, sailing on Oriana, Canberra, Uganda, Iberia to name a few ships. After leaving P&O he went to live and work in Bermuda. He is predeceased by his wife Doreen, survived by his daughter Jayne Saxon.
Simon Hill
Dave Bloomer was one of the good ones. A guy that did not tolerate bullsh1t too well. After his sea days he became a friend in Bermuda while still working at BELCO and later when he retired. Many a time we went out to dinner enjoying our GTs, and our company, his Doreen and my better half, Denise. RIP dear Dave.
Paul James Tandy
My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to my dearest friend David and his family.
I shall forever cherish our friendship and memories we shared together.
A true gentleman and scholar.
A charismatic renaissance man who was admired by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
His legacy will forever live on within our hearts.
A tribute to Dave.
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Rest in peace my dear friend
Michael DeSilva
Sending deepest condolences to David's family and friends. David was a kind and friendly man who touched many lives. His helpful and busy presence made our neighbourhood a better place. I will miss our chats, his routine patrols, and his cheeky smile.
Christopher Dumoulin .... (Chris)
Very sad to read today of Dave´s passing. We were fellow officers on P&O ships and enjoyed pub lunches at the Robin Hood. So pleased we got you whale watching and over to Dockyard during my Bermuda vacations!! My condolences to David´s family.
Mike Jack
Sailed with David on Uganda, a kind and gentle man. A fellow P&O Engineer
RIP David
David was an engineer with P&O during the late 60’s through the 70’s, sailing on Oriana, Canberra, Uganda, Iberia to name a few ships. After leaving P&O he went to live and work in Bermuda. He is predeceased by his wife Doreen, survived by his daughter Jayne Saxon.
Simon Hill
Dave Bloomer was one of the good ones. A guy that did not tolerate bullsh1t too well. After his sea days he became a friend in Bermuda while still working at BELCO and later when he retired. Many a time we went out to dinner enjoying our GTs, and our company, his Doreen and my better half, Denise. RIP dear Dave.
Paul James Tandy
My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to my dearest friend David and his family.
I shall forever cherish our friendship and memories we shared together.
A true gentleman and scholar.
A charismatic renaissance man who was admired by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
His legacy will forever live on within our hearts.
A tribute to Dave.
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Rest in peace my dear friend
Michael DeSilva
Sending deepest condolences to David's family and friends. David was a kind and friendly man who touched many lives. His helpful and busy presence made our neighbourhood a better place. I will miss our chats, his routine patrols, and his cheeky smile.
Christopher Dumoulin .... (Chris)
Very sad to read today of Dave´s passing. We were fellow officers on P&O ships and enjoyed pub lunches at the Robin Hood. So pleased we got you whale watching and over to Dockyard during my Bermuda vacations!! My condolences to David´s family.
Mike Jack
Sailed with David on Uganda, a kind and gentle man. A fellow P&O Engineer
RIP David
The sad news has been passed to me that Mrs Stella Sparrow has died at the age of 93.
Stella, known to her colleagues as Steve, worked for P&O Cruises in Southampton in the Accounts Department, initially in the Briton Street office and later in Dukes Keep and Richmond House until her retirement in August 1995.
Before joining P&O, Steve served in the WRNS (“Wrens”) where she met her husband, George.
The funeral will take place at 1:00 pm on Monday the 30th March at Wessex Vale Crematorium, Bubb Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 2HL.
I regret that I have no further information.
Stella, known to her colleagues as Steve, worked for P&O Cruises in Southampton in the Accounts Department, initially in the Briton Street office and later in Dukes Keep and Richmond House until her retirement in August 1995.
Before joining P&O, Steve served in the WRNS (“Wrens”) where she met her husband, George.
The funeral will take place at 1:00 pm on Monday the 30th March at Wessex Vale Crematorium, Bubb Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 2HL.
I regret that I have no further information.
Derek Warmington
News has been received that James Hall died as a result of a stroke on the 29th January. He was 81 years of age and had been in a Care Home in Malton, North Yorkshire, for some considerable time.
James joined P&O as a Writer/Letter Bureau Attendant in ORIANA in the mid 1960s. After some years in this role, he became a Laundry Steward before transferring to the Stores where he worked his way up to become 1st Storekeeper. Over the years that followed he sailed in CANBERRA and SEA PRINCESS as well as in ORIANA.
After leaving P&O in the mid 1980s he spent some time working for North Sea Ferries, sailing out of Hull.
In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral.
Derek Warmington
I bring the sad news that Colin Cooper died on the 13th January at the age of 95.
Colin joined the Orient Line Passenger Department in the West End of London in 1950, having previously completed his National Service in the Royal Air Force mostly serving in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.
Following the merger of P&O and the Orient Line in 1960, Colin remained and was to stay with P&O for the rest of his career.
In 1966, he was selected to spend 6 months travelling around the world visiting and gaining experience in the various P&O offices in Australia, New Zealand, North America and Japan and on his return, he was posted to Manchester as Senior Sales Representative for the North of England. From there he became Agency Sales Manager and Promotions Executive in London until his retirement in 1993.
In retirement, Colin sailed regularly as Shore Excursions Manager in various ships, responsible for on board sales. He also remained fit and active, playing golf two or three times per week for many years.
The funeral will take place at 1:30 pm on Monday the 2nd March at Guildford Crematorium, New Pond Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 3DB. Afterwards, the family warmly invites those attending to share memories and refreshments at Bramley Golf Club, Links Road, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0AL.
If you plan to attend, please email: scoop1283@gmail.com to give the family an indication of numbers to expect.
Derek Warmington
Colin joined the Orient Line Passenger Department in the West End of London in 1950, having previously completed his National Service in the Royal Air Force mostly serving in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.
Following the merger of P&O and the Orient Line in 1960, Colin remained and was to stay with P&O for the rest of his career.
In 1966, he was selected to spend 6 months travelling around the world visiting and gaining experience in the various P&O offices in Australia, New Zealand, North America and Japan and on his return, he was posted to Manchester as Senior Sales Representative for the North of England. From there he became Agency Sales Manager and Promotions Executive in London until his retirement in 1993.
In retirement, Colin sailed regularly as Shore Excursions Manager in various ships, responsible for on board sales. He also remained fit and active, playing golf two or three times per week for many years.
The funeral will take place at 1:30 pm on Monday the 2nd March at Guildford Crematorium, New Pond Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 3DB. Afterwards, the family warmly invites those attending to share memories and refreshments at Bramley Golf Club, Links Road, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0AL.
If you plan to attend, please email: scoop1283@gmail.com to give the family an indication of numbers to expect.
Derek Warmington
I have received the sad news from her nephew, that Jean Sinclair died peacefully in Lymington Hospital on the 18th November. She was 99 years of age.
Jean joined P&O in 1951 in the West End Office prior to going to sea as a Stenographer in February 1952. During the years that followed she sailed in a number of different P&O ships including STRATHNAVER, IBERIA and CHUSAN.
Stenographers were not Officers and shared a cabin but following the merger of P&O with the Orient Line in 1960, they became Woman Assistant Pursers (WAPs) with full Officer status. This brought them into line with the Female Assistant Pursers (FAPS) of the Orient Line.
Jean left P&O as a Woman Assistant Purser in 1962. She then worked at the School of Navigation at Warsash (now the Warsash Maritime Academy) and later, for Hampshire County Council until her retirement in 1986.
The funeral has already taken place.
Derek Warmington
Jean joined P&O in 1951 in the West End Office prior to going to sea as a Stenographer in February 1952. During the years that followed she sailed in a number of different P&O ships including STRATHNAVER, IBERIA and CHUSAN.
Stenographers were not Officers and shared a cabin but following the merger of P&O with the Orient Line in 1960, they became Woman Assistant Pursers (WAPs) with full Officer status. This brought them into line with the Female Assistant Pursers (FAPS) of the Orient Line.
Jean left P&O as a Woman Assistant Purser in 1962. She then worked at the School of Navigation at Warsash (now the Warsash Maritime Academy) and later, for Hampshire County Council until her retirement in 1986.
The funeral has already taken place.
Derek Warmington
The sad news has been received that Chris Adams died on the 2nd January at the age of 71. He had been suffering from cancer.
Chris joined P&O in 1972 as an Engine Cadet and sailed in a number of ships including SEA PRINCESS, ISLAND PRINCESS, PACIFIC PRINCESS and ROYAL PRINCESS before leaving in 1985 by which time he was a Second Engineer Officer.
He then pursued a highly successful career in marine engineering and ship maintenance in a number of different companies and roles:
Chief Engineer Officer - Channel Island Ferries, 1985
Engineering Superintendent - Denholm Group, 1985 to 1989
Technical Manager – Trimline, 1989 to 1992,
General Manager and Director – CLC Group, 1992 to 2010
Technical Manager – SERCO Northlink Ferries, 2012 to 2016
Sales Director – GME Services Ltd, 2017 to 2018 and finally
Director/Owner – C.A.S.E. Project Management Ltd, 2010 to 2025
The funeral will take place at 10:00 am on Monday the 19th January at East Devon Crematorium, London Road, Strete Ralegh, Whimple, Exeter, EX5 2PT.
Dress Code: Not black and not formal.
Refreshments from 12 Noon at ‘Amy’s at the filling station’, Swan Hill Road, Colyton, Exeter, EX24 6QQ. If you plan to attend, please email: shereelynch@caseprojects.net to provide an indication of numbers to expect.
There will be a webcast of the service through Wesley Media:
https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view
Webcast Login PIN:770-4039. The event number is 1482230.
Derek Warmington
Chris joined P&O in 1972 as an Engine Cadet and sailed in a number of ships including SEA PRINCESS, ISLAND PRINCESS, PACIFIC PRINCESS and ROYAL PRINCESS before leaving in 1985 by which time he was a Second Engineer Officer.
He then pursued a highly successful career in marine engineering and ship maintenance in a number of different companies and roles:
Chief Engineer Officer - Channel Island Ferries, 1985
Engineering Superintendent - Denholm Group, 1985 to 1989
Technical Manager – Trimline, 1989 to 1992,
General Manager and Director – CLC Group, 1992 to 2010
Technical Manager – SERCO Northlink Ferries, 2012 to 2016
Sales Director – GME Services Ltd, 2017 to 2018 and finally
Director/Owner – C.A.S.E. Project Management Ltd, 2010 to 2025
The funeral will take place at 10:00 am on Monday the 19th January at East Devon Crematorium, London Road, Strete Ralegh, Whimple, Exeter, EX5 2PT.
Dress Code: Not black and not formal.
Refreshments from 12 Noon at ‘Amy’s at the filling station’, Swan Hill Road, Colyton, Exeter, EX24 6QQ. If you plan to attend, please email: shereelynch@caseprojects.net to provide an indication of numbers to expect.
There will be a webcast of the service through Wesley Media:
https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view
Webcast Login PIN:770-4039. The event number is 1482230.
Derek Warmington
Chris Is survived by Sheree, his wife; his three children Victoria, Charlotte and John and four granddaughters Isobel, Eleanor, Matilda and Harriet.
The order of service, tributes and more pictures can be found via the following link,
Chris Adams Tributes Etc.
The order of service, tributes and more pictures can be found via the following link,
Chris Adams Tributes Etc.
P&O Pensioners
