Robin Thompson ( Safmarine )

[robpage]

Mailship commodore’s final call
The death has occurred in Durban of Commodore Robin Thomson, first
commodore of the Safmarine mailships (SA VAAL and SA ORANJE) and later
a master on the Safmarine ‘Big White’ vessel SA Helderberg, which he
delivered to South Africa from the French shipyard.

Robin Thomson was a South African seafarer, a product of the training
ship General Botha. He first went to sea during World War 2, surviving
the sinking of his first ship on which he was serving. After the war
he joined Safmarine soon after that company’s formation, rising to
take command of a number of their ships including the two mailships SA
Vaal and SA Oranje. He became the first Safmarine man to reach the
position of fleet commodore.

Commodore Thomson, who was in his eighties, died in hospital after
becoming ill following a fall at his home on the Berea, where he had
lived after his retirement in 1984. His wife Helene had died a few
years previously.

[Doc Vernon]

May i send my sincere condolences to the Family of Commodore Robin Thomson.
A great carreer man indeed,and had good training at the SA Base General Botha.
Thank you for this info Rob!
All the best
Sincerly
Vernon and Irene

[Glan Phillips]

My sympathy and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Commodore Robin Thomson, it is always sad to learn of the loss of one of our shipmates.
Sincerely,
Glan Phillips