Members comments and contributions to QE2 Captains topic

[Alan Snelson]

I sailed with nine of the men in the photo though they were not all Captains at the time. Their ranks at the time I knew them were:

Captains; Bob Arnott, Robin Woodall, Laurence Portet, Peter Jackson.
Staff Captains; Keith Stanley (Countess), John Burton-Hall.
1st Officers; Nick Bates, Roland Hassel (became Staff Captain on Countess 1984), Ron Warwick.

[cunardqueen]

Boris thanks for adding in Ray Heath, had no unearthly idea who he was.

[neil parrott]

What ever happened to Harvey smith. was staff captain when i was senior officer steward on there in 1980.
And Ridley was also captain /staff captain when i was on there.

[neil parrott]

Have found a picture of Harvey smith

[neil parrott]

A Pic Captain Ridley

[Boris]

A Pic Captain Ridley

I'm guessing, a Concessionaires' table? Is the young lady Magical Maggie by any chance? Though I would be surprised if she was still on board in that era.

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks for posting the photos.  Looks like Alan Snelson in the first photo with the Captain.  Not sure if that is also him sitting at the left of the second photo, but I am sure Alan will be able to fill in the names of those seated. 

[June Ingram]

Great pictures !  Thanks for posting them.  I am wondering too if Alan is in the second photo also.

[Alan Snelson]

Indeed it is me in both photos. The group in the restaurant were all the photographers on board for the 1980 World Cruise. From left to right Myself, Dave Barnicoat, Tony Secker, Christine Snelson (my sister) and Steve Dean. Captain Ridley of course is behind us.

I don't know what has happened to Captain Ridley, none of my web searches have uncovered much about him so either there isn't much out there or I am looking in the wrong places. I have heard from a former colleague that Harvey Smith is still alive but his health is not that great, he is also suffering from some form of dementia possibly Alzheimer's but don't know for sure.

Harvey Smith was probably one of the best Captains never to have become Master of QE2 mainly due to Cunards introduction of the Executive Captain role in the early 80's which sidetracked Harvey in to a more administrative role, a great shame in my view as I think he would have made an excellent Master. We became quite good friends during my time aboard and I visited his home in Romsey a couple of times when we were both ashore.

[Twynkle]

Sadly, Captain Harvey Smith died on Monday, 16th November (2015).

[Rob Lightbody]

Sadly, Captain Harvey Smith died on Monday, 16th November (2015).

Hi,

That is sad news indeed. 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/announcements/deaths/deaths/14041886.CAPTAIN_HARVEY_LESLIE_SMITH/

[Alan Snelson]

So sad to hear this news although I knew it was inevitable as he has not enjoyed the best of health for some time.

He was a lovely man and a pleasure to sail with. He was, as I am sure I have said elsewhere, the finest Captain to have never been made master of QE2.

RIP

[cunardqueen]

Do we have a photo of him. Wasnt he photographed among the other Captains when the Queen came to pay her last visit.?

[Louis De Sousa]

Check here Myles https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=346.0 post 30

[Tony Secker]

Very sad to hear of Captain Harvey Smith passing...Many wonderful memories of sailing with him....R.I.P Harvey