Death of Capt Bob Arnott

[cunardqueen]

He was Captain when Alan Whicker did his Fast Boat to China programmes.   
May he Rest in Peace and may the memories live on...

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/heritage/news/13641750.Final_salute_to_a_captain_of_the_Queen____Mr_QE2/

That is a fine article, written with a sense of humour by Keith Hamilton, who either knew Captain Arnott very well or had excellent sources. Maybe the episode of "This is your life" could have been a help!

[Rob Lightbody]

This has been sent to us today from David Woodcock


Notice on FRUFC Web page 4/9/15


Funeral Arrangements Tues Sep 8th 12.30 St Nicholas's Church Fleetwood

Brief Obituary

Capt Bob was our oldest distinguished member who died last Thursday.

He was a real gentleman who didn't court the limelight, however he was featured in the TV programmes "This is your Life" and "Wickers World".

At the age of 17, in 1940, he joined the Merchant Navy as a Midshipman and saw out the war with the Blue Funnel Line.
Progressing through the ranks, he joined Cunard in 1949 and in 1950 gained his Masters Certificate at Fleetwood Nautical College. From Junior third officer he served on numerous ships until his elevation to Master of the QE2 in 1976.

He retired in 1985 ending a 45 year career at sea.

He was a long serving member at Fleetwood RUFC visiting when available. 

[Kevin McGhee]

It is with much sadness that I read of the death of Captain Arnott on this forum. I sailed with him on QE 2 for about 10 years beginning in 1968 in Clydebank. He was a very popular Captain and you never heard anyone with a bad word to say about him. For most of this time onboard I was a bartender and it was always a pleasure and a privilege to serve him his favourite tipple, a Glenfiddich with water. His family were delightful and his son was definitely 'a chip off the old block', he must be very proud of his father.

The attached photo was taken on his last voyage and he signed it for me on the crew flight back to the UK. It reads "To Kevin, On my last voyage - nice sailing with you, Best Wishes Bob Arnott.   RIP Captain.

[Rob Lightbody]

The Telegraph has published a lovely obituary today, with lots of great wee nuggets of information in it.

I highly recommend you take the time to read this.

Captain Robert Arnott - obituary

Long-serving master of Cunard’s luxury liner QE2 who served roast turkey to Victor Mature

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11844429/Captain-Robert-Arnott-obituary.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Boris]

Details of the funeral service contained in this obituary from the Blackpool Evening Gazette
http://announce.jpress.co.uk/blackpool-evening-gazette/obituary/robert-arnott/43398312?s_source=jpnw_blac

[Stowaway2k]

The Telegraph has published a lovely obituary today, with lots of great wee nuggets of information in it.

I highly recommend you take the time to read this.

Captain Robert Arnott - obituary

Long-serving master of Cunard’s luxury liner QE2 who served roast turkey to Victor Mature

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11844429/Captain-Robert-Arnott-obituary.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Very lovely tribute and obit for Mr. QE2.

[Lynda Bradford]

Both the newspaper tributes and the post on this topic reflect how much Captain Arnott was respected and loved.  I know I enjoyed researched his career for the Captain's Profile as what came through was the strong personality of Captain Arnott and someone who loved his life at sea. 

[Peter Mugridge]

The Telegraph obituary is in the printed edition of the paper for today ( yeserday now actually ) 5th September.

[Boris]

I was corresponding with a shipmate who served as Cap Sec on QE2 for a number of years; discussing the passing of Captain Arnott, with whom we both served. I have extracted some comment from my friend's response which sums up in a few brief sentences what a nice man he was. Worth sharing I think, from someone who knew him better than most on board.

I really liked Captain Arnott, he was always fair and listened.  It never occurred to me that he was old enough to be my father!!  Imagine the responsibility that he had when the bomb scare took place.  I was on board at the time.  All those lives in his hands.  I was also on board when he set sail from Russia, the passengers and crew were delighted that he stood up to the Russians!!  There was a tremendous cheer throughout the ship!!  Can you imagine that?!!

[Peter Mugridge]

I was also on board when he set sail from Russia, the passengers and crew were delighted that he stood up to the Russians!!  There was a tremendous cheer throughout the ship!!  Can you imagine that?!![/size][/font][/i]

That sounds like a good Arnott story is waiting to be told there and I reckon this is the right time and place for it... please do fill us in on it.

[cunardqueen]

  That sounds like a good Arnott story is waiting to be told there and I reckon this is the right time and place for it... please do fill us in on it.
 

It features right here on the forum.

•   The maiden call to Yalta was cut unexpectedly short. As passengers were preparing to go ashore in the launches, the Russian authorities decided that every shoregoing passenger must have a Soviet visa. Captain Arnott realised that this proceed would take so long that some of the passengers would never get ashore so he ordered all the officials off the ship and put to sea again as the stirring music of ‘Rule Britannia’ played throughout the liner. 

Im sure but wasnt one of the tenders actually on it way into Yalta and it was recalled.
Didnt Captain Arnott on entering the restaurant receive a standing ovation.

Its been a while since i read Captain of the Queen, but thats what l seem to recall 

[Boris]

Im [not] sure but wasnt one of the tenders actually on it way into Yalta and it was recalled.

I had transferred to the Princess by then, so any input on the Yalta episode from me is only hearsay. My wife however, who served on board at that time, tells me they found out the day before arrival that all (pax and crew) would require visas to land ashore. Accordingly, seeing as none had, she thinks it highly unlikely that a tender set out upon arrival.

That said, in my opinion, maybe a tender could have been sent to collect the agent/chandler/immigration whatever?

I guess the person in this forum who could possibly answer the question is John Drew. (If your memory is up to it mate - mine certainly wouldn't be after all those years). Sorry to put you on the spot John.

[John Drew]

The trip to Yalta, Now that's a while ago but as far as I remember ( and I may be wrong) the first or Staff  launch left the ship with all the shore staff and the 1st Mate or one of the mates on board to set up the staging area for passengers etc. They were only part of the way over to shore when they were called back, all the other launches that had been lowered to the boat deck were stowed away back up in the davits along with the shore tender when it got back. The passengers seemed quite happy with Captain Arnott's way of telling them well we don't need you lot we can check you later, or words to that effect. In reality in those days there was not much for westerners to do ashore anyway as too many restrictions. John.

[Boris]

Many thanks John. You're a star: I knew your memory couldn't be faulted. (Sorry to put you on the spot - will buy you a drink next week when we catch up).

I take your point that there was little to do in such a port. Whilst I was no longer on board for that particular cruise I recall heading ashore in Odessa some years previously (The first time QE2 had visited a USSR port?). What a boring place. Yes the potemkin steps were worth seeing but the rest of the city was typical Stalinist architecture in those days. The only thing that made the run ashore vaguely interesting was having your footsteps dogged throughout by secret police 'minders'.

Maybe the USSR insisted on visas for the Yalta visit because they couldn't scrape together enough secret police foot soldiers and wanted to limit the number of capitalist reactionaries wandering around their workers' paradise?

But, I wander off topic. mea culpa