Discussions on Chief Engineers of QE2

[Beardy Rich]

Can anyone tell me the name of the Chief Engineer after John Chillingworth left? I've forgotten his name 

[Michael Gallagher]

Rich

This is the list of Chief Engineers I have managed to compile. They are not in the correct order and the list is incomplete I think!


Don Wilson         1969

Jack Marland      1969

William Farmer      

Ron Bateson

John Grant

Alistair Harman      1984

Robin Rodger      3 weeks

B Gregory?

John Tomlins?

Tom Goode?

John Chillingworth      1985

Simon Gillan      1986

Steve Hare         1986

Gareth Hambin      1996

A Lee

Brian Watling      

John Hanvey

William R Robinson   

Paul J Yeoman

[Beardy Rich]

Thanks so much for posting the list. Some names I recognise there 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Brian Watling      

John Hanvey

William R Robinson   

Paul J Yeoman

I took a wee look through some old Daily Programmes (there must have been a good reason why I kept every single one of them!) to see whether I could find dates for these Chief Engineers, some of whom we had the good fortune and delight to meet.

Brian Watling was the Chief Engineer at whose table we enjoyed ourselves in 2002, but I don't know when he became Chief Engineer, nor when he left QE2 (for QM2 I believe).

John Hanvey is written up in the Daily Programme of 28 June 2006, where it says that he was appointed Chief Engineer of QE2 in 2001. No end date is given, of course...

And we met Paul Yeoman in 2008. The Daily Programme of 13 September 2008 says that Paul was promoted to Chief Engineer of QE2 in January 2007. Presumably he stayed on board after September 2008 all the way to Dubai...

[skilly56]

Isabelle,

John Hanvey was chief engineer on the last trip to Dubai.

Skilly

[bulkheadstop]

This an expansion of Flagships list


Chief  Engineers  history
This is the list of Chief Engineers
Steam ship

Don Wilson         1969 to 1972  retired

Jack  Marland      1969  to 1980  retired medical

William Farmer  1971 to 1981?  retired   

Ron Bateson  1980 to 1984 retired

John Grant   1978  to  1984  retired medical

Alistair Harman      1984 to 1985  went to Cunard Countess  retired medical 1986

Robin Rodger      1984    3 weeks Filled in due to  manning requirements ,  died  2000?  of stomach cancer

B Gregory   1984 to 1986  went to Cunard Countess

John Tomlins  1984  3 weeks Filled in due to manning requirements died in a motorbike accident in 1992?

Tom Goode  1984  3 weeks     Filled in due to  manning requirements,  died 1999?  of stomach cancer

John  Chillingworth      1984 to 1986 went to Cunard Princess

Diesel Electric

Simon Gillan      1987 to 2002 went to QM2 and retired medical

Steve Hare         1986 to 2002 left
 
John Chillingworth 1988 to 1989  went as Technical  Manager Saga Vista and Sea goddess

Gareth Hambin      1994 to 1998  went to Disney cruises

A Lee                     2002  to 2004?  retired

Brian Watling    2000 to 2002  went to QM2       

John Hanvey     1989?  to 2008  now covering the Cunard and P and O fleet

William R Robinson   2001 to 2005  went to Queen Victoria 

Paul J Yeoman     2007 to 2008   now covering the Cunard and P and O fleet

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

That is excellent! Thank you so much for this comprehensive list, showing even where they went after leaving QE2.

It is awfully tempting to ask you whether you can remember many of the Staff Chief Engineers too...!

[Rod]

Basically for Staff Chiefs just put the dates back a year or 2!

[Rod]

I served with all but 3 of those men!
Then when my wife worked for Disney Cruise line....met an awful lot of Cunarders.

[Rod]

Robin Roger. His wardroom trick, he was thin and wiry. The old wardroom chairs had flat wooden arms.
After being paid enough in scotch. He would put his palms on the flat arms of the chair and push himself up into a handstand!
Great wife great family great man!...Miss him so much!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I have finally scanned and uploaded the photos taken during a World Cruise segment in 2002, and found a picture of the Staff Chief Engineer called Simon, at the time when Brian Watling was the Chief Engineer. Both of them hosted us at their table in the Caronia Restaurant, and we had a superb time with them.

Would anyone remember his other name please?

Here is a picture of Simon as the Easter Bunny :


Simon, the Staff Chief Engineer by prondis_in_kenya, on Flickr

[riskygizmo]

Simon Todd I believe, Isabelle.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Simon Todd I believe, Isabelle.

Yes indeed. That's it! Thank you.

I wonder what has become of him?

[Rod]

John "Paddy" Hanvey married one of the ships nurses Wendy. She was interviewed for BBC South on the start of the voyage to Dubai! She was very good with a suture kit!

[Rod]

Another name that comes to mind is Steve Konstanz. I know he sailed as Staff Chief after the major refit after I left in 88/89. He became Disney Cruise Lines principal head hunter for ALL staff after serving on the Disney Wonder for a while.

[Alan Snelson]

I don't see Stan Childs name on either of the earlier lists, and I believe he was Chief sometime around late 70's to early 80's.

Can't remember the name of the Chief in this photo either, was that John Grant?

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,2163.msg56254.html#msg56254

[Rod]

That was indeed John Grant.
And Risky Gizmos Dad is there as well with his wife Moira!

[Alan Snelson]

I have noticed that Moira is our latest new member of the forum. I hope she is able to find time to tell us all of her times on board.

[Jim Bennett]

Stand Childs was Staff Chief when I joined the ship in '78. Bill Farmer was still the Chief Engineer with John Grant Deputy. When Bill Farmer retired, John Grant took over as Chief and Ron Bateson as Deputy - I think Stan was still Staff chief then.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

We have a received request from a QE2 engineer to develop this topic, so that eventually we may be able to upgrade it to a board of its own, with a topic on each Chief Engineer, just as we have for Captains at present.

It would therefore be great if we could collect information here, so that it can be transferred to a separate topic for each person once we have sufficient material. Looking forward to your help!

[Lynda Bradford]

This an expansion of Flagships list


Chief  Engineers  history
This is the list of Chief Engineers
Steam ship

Don Wilson         1969 to 1972  retired

Jack  Marland      1969  to 1980  retired medical

William Farmer  1971 to 1981?  retired   

Ron Bateson  1980 to 1984 retired

John Grant   1978  to  1984  retired medical

Alistair Harman      1984 to 1985  went to Cunard Countess  retired medical 1986

Robin Rodger      1984    3 weeks Filled in due to  manning requirements ,  died  2000?  of stomach cancer

B Gregory   1984 to 1986  went to Cunard Countess

John Tomlins  1984  3 weeks Filled in due to manning requirements died in a motorbike accident in 1992?

Tom Goode  1984  3 weeks     Filled in due to  manning requirements,  died 1999?  of stomach cancer

John  Chillingworth      1984 to 1986 went to Cunard Princess

Diesel Electric

Simon Gillan      1987 to 2002 went to QM2 and retired medical

Steve Hare         1987 to 2004? left
 
John Chillingworth 1988 to 1989  went as Technical  Manager Saga Vista and Sea goddess

Gareth Hambin      1994 to 1998  went to Disney cruises

A Lee                     2002  to 2004?  retired

Brian Watling    2000 to 2002  went to QM2       

John Hanvey     1989?  to 2008  now covering the Cunard and P and O fleet

William R Robinson   2001 to 2005  went to Queen Victoria 

Paul J Yeoman     2007 to 2008   now covering the Cunard and P and O fleet

I see we already have a good start to this topic with the list in a previous post.
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7859.msg26993.html#msg26993

If we can expand on this information we can have a QE2 Chief Engineers board, like the QE2 Captain's board
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/board,105.0.html

[Lynda Bradford]

A question for those from the Engineering Crew.  How many Chief Engineers would rotate between cruises?  For example would QE2 have two Chief Engineers for QE2, one on the ship and one ashore, or would there be more to cover in the event of illness

[Andy Holloway]

Steve Hare         1986 to 2002? left

[CasinoChris]

Remember Simon Todd well, great fella. Ho took me on an Engine room tour whilst the ship was running at full speed, Memorable experience!!

[Peter Mugridge]

Steve Hare         1987 to 2004? left

[Rod]

A question for those from the Engineering Crew.  How many Chief Engineers would rotate between cruises?  For example would QE2 have two Chief Engineers for QE2, one on the ship and one ashore, or would there be more to cover in the event of illness

Essentially, you had one Chief, when he went on leave, Deputy/Staff Chief would take over and First Engineer would become Deputy?Staff Chief.
Other seniors would move up a notch. Chiefs did the same rotation of 2 on 1 off. It changed dramatically before re-engining as Steam Chiefs had to get diesel time in and so we got quite a few of the "Small Ship" chiefs coming over if they had a combined Steam/Diesel ticket.

[Rod]

Not really, in reply to the question.

[Rod]

Any person, that sailed on QE2, or, for that matter probably ANY Cunard ship, well, probably ANY passenger ship, has true stories to tell about people they served with, including themselves, that would amuse, shock and sometimes stun the audience.
I will not relate any of these stories out of respect and so as not to tarnish the good names of these people.
Just to leave Peter hanging a bit more:
The time a Nursery Attendant was dangled over the Atlantic by her ankles?
The time a trap shooting shooting shotgun was brought to a very famous British Celebrity's cabin in earnest by a Master at Arms?

[Lynda Bradford]

We have a received request from a QE2 engineer to develop this topic, so that eventually we may be able to upgrade it to a board of its own, with a topic on each Chief Engineer, just as we have for Captains at present.

It would therefore be great if we could collect information here, so that it can be transferred to a separate topic for each person once we have sufficient material. Looking forward to your help!

Just a wee update. I have started working on the Chief Engineer profiles (in the moderator section) were I have set up profiles with photos of Jack Marland, Willie Farmer and Ron Bateson.  It is amazing the snippets of information that can be found in QE2 programmes and books plus in the forum. So if you have time  to look through QE2 programmes, like what Isabelle has done and let me know if you find Chief Engineer background information that would be helpful.  I am going to work on this bit by bit when I have time and particularly over the Christmas period when I hope Rob can set up the board where I can put the profiles.    We have an excellent start with the list compiled in this topic.

[cunardqueen]

Or the Chief Engineer whose wife made it very clear on his table she would rather be anywhere else but there..
Mindyou maybe she just didnt like the dinner guests..

[Lynda Bradford]

I have set up individual profiles for the Chief Engineers and pleased with the initial results. 

Thanks to the contribution made in this topic, there was a good starting point with the list of Chief Engineers. 

I found some CE information in Cunard Souvenir books and brochures, I even found a picture of Don Wilson the first CE.  I have also written to Chief Engineers where I found contact details and was pleased with the response.

I have set up the board the same as for the Captains with the list of Chief Engineers, at the top and the chief engineers topics listed in chronological order.

Have a look:
The QE2 Chief Engineers board with the list of QE2 Chief Engineers at the top and each individual profile

List of QE2 Chief Engineers where you can select a Chief Engineer's name and go straight to the profile

Because the topics are in chronological order, I have locked them to keep them in this order. I am asking for any discussions/comments to be made on this topic.  I have added a link back to here so that we can make comments and perhaps find some more information.   

This is a work in progress and for some of the Chief Engineers, we may not get the profile information.  I have added a Profile for Stan Childs, as it will be easier to remove it is we subsequently find he was not a Chief Engineer. 

Lynda

[Rod]

Great job!

[Trevor Casey]

Very nice job, Lynda!

[Thomas Hypher]

Excellent, thank you Lynda!

[Jimbilton]

In the Colin Walker book, Memory of a Queen: RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, there is a good photo of Chief Engineer Farmer. 

There is also a photograph of Engineer Officer Tomlins - could he be the same Tomlins mentioned in the list of QE2 chief engineers?

For anybody who loves the RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, if you don't have it already, I can heartily recommend the above mentioned book. There are many superb photographs, not to be found in any other publication. Commodore Marr wrote a nice foreword for the book too.

Thank you for starting the Chief Engineers  section.  I wish I had a time machine, I would love to be an engineer on one of the great transatlantic liners!

[Lynda Bradford]

In the Colin Walker book, Memory of a Queen: RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, there is a good photo of Chief Engineer Farmer. 

There is also a photograph of Engineer Officer Tomlins - could he be the same Tomlins mentioned in the list of QE2 chief engineers?

For anybody who loves the RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, if you don't have it already, I can heartily recommend the above mentioned book. There are many superb photographs, not to be found in any other publication. Commodore Marr wrote a nice foreword for the book too.

Thank you for starting the Chief Engineers  section.  I wish I had a time machine, I would love to be an engineer on one of the great transatlantic liners!

Thank-you so much for this information and glad to hear that you appreciate the Chief Engineers section.  I must try to find  the book, it sounds interesting. 

[Jimbilton]

Oh yes, Lynda, do please buy the book I mentioned. There are several for sale on the internet at the moment, and at reasonable prices.  The book has many large photographs of the beautiful Elizabeth, mostly taken in the last few months of her active service.

Speaking of engineers,  there was a R.E Philip, who, according to Commodore Marr's book, was chief engineer on the QUEEN ELIZABETH 1966 - 1968, and was aboard for the long voyage to Hong Kong.  I wonder if he ever served on the QE2, or if he retired before she entered service.

[Lynda Bradford]

I was very pleased to hear from Jane Crosthwaite, Ron Bateson's daughter who has provided additional information for her father's profile. 

I had updated the profile, which you can view here:

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=8089.msg91604#msg91604

[riskygizmo]

Robin Rodger with his wife Myra in the red dress and my mother hanging round his neck. Sorry, don't know the name of the other lady.

[Jim Bennett]

Hi Neil - Just seen this. The "Other Lady" is my wife Debra. I think this was the first time she travelled with me on the ship, just after we were married. Happy Days!

Jim