As photographers we had regular contact with the Captain, naturally at Captains cocktail parties, but there were also other times when we were called upon to document events on board. As a result of a good deal of effort from our Chief photographer, Tony Secker, in developing and building relationships with the ships officers, we were fortunate to enjoy very good working and social relationships with the various Captains and other senior officers.
During my time on board (79-82) the Captains were, Lawrence Portet, Doug Ridley, Bob Arnott, Robin Woodall and Peter Jackson, I also served with Robin Wadsworth on the Countess before he came across to QE2. Staff Captains were Harvey Smith, John Burton-Hall and Alan Bennell.
It is quite interesting to see people who were First Officers when I was there who then went on to become QE2 Captains; the ones I got to know were Ron Warwick, Roland Hazell and Nick Bates.
Kathy M’s photo in the previous post is of David Carr, who was also a First Officer when I started on QE2. I believe he became a Staff Captain but I can’t find him listed anywhere as having become Master of QE2.
In the early 80’s there must have been a surplus of four stripe deck officers, so Cunard created the position of Executive Captain. I think the first to hold this office was Capt Harvey Smith, and if I remember correctly he and Capt Doug Ridley alternated. I believe the idea was to take most of the administrative burden away from the Master and provide a better interface between the ship and hotel side allowing the ship’s Captain to focus his full attention on the ship. Do current Cunard ships still have the position of Executive Captain?
One major privilege I enjoyed as a result of the good relations we had happened every sailaway night from Southampton or New York and at regular intervals on World Cruises. On these nights I had the job of arranging with the Executive Chef (who at the time was John Bainbridge) to collect a salver full of steak sandwiches from the Princess Grill galley. Then once we were in open water the Captain, Cruise Director, Cruise Directors Secretary, Chief photographer and I would all meet up in the Cruise Directors cabin to have a few drinks and get stuck in to the sandwiches which were always excellent. I just can’t for the life of me remember the Cruise Directors name but his secretary’s name was Maureen and she was lovely. This was a tradition I was happy to continue when I took over as Chief photographer in 1981 and have great memories of these informal gatherings especially with Capt Arnott and Capt Ridley.
Another memory I have of Capt Ridley is from 1981. We had put in to Allesund in Norway, it wasn’t a scheduled stop but I can’t remember what happened to make us have to stop there. I had the day to myself so decided I would have an early lunch and then go sightseeing. I was in T.O.W. as soon as it opened, had lunch then went ashore. After about half an hour I bumped into Capt Ridley who was out of uniform and taking in the sights, he said “I’m just off for lunch, join me, I hate eating alone”. Well I didn’t dare refuse, so off we went to a nearby hotel where he ordered a whole Sea bass with all the trimmings for us to share. I was fit to burst but couldn’t bring myself to tell him I had already eaten.
It’s really only now, looking back over thirty years ago that I realize just what a fortunate existence I had and how lucky to do all that and get paid for it too.
I have attached a couple of photos. The Photographers team on the 1980 world cruise with Capt Ridley, Capt Arnott with me and now ex-wife Karen; and Capt Harvey Smith and me.
