Captain Bob Arrnott

[Brian Probetts (Site Admin)]

We learn from Peter F Chard in New Zealand that Captain Robert Arrnott, affectionally known to his passengers as 'Bob' has Crossed the Bar on his final voyage.

At Fleetwood, Capt. Bob ARRNOTT, age 92. Capt. Bob was Master of the QE2 for a number of years.

The Captain died at the age of 92 at his home in Fleetwood a few days ago. He was the first master of the QE2 and served for several years in that role until retirement.

[Captain Kong]

I knew Bob, he used to live with his sister. we used the same tailor in Fleetwood. just have to find out when the funeral is.
Thanks for telling.
PS Just missed the funeral two days ago. sad.
Brian



Port funeral for former QE2 master


Captain Bob Arnott, pictured at his home in Fleetwood, was the longest-serving master of liner QE2.

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published 12:00 Saturday 05 September 2015


A funeral will be held in Fleetwood on Tuesday for the former master of one of the best-known cruise liners in the world.

Captain Bob Arnott, who died on August 27 at the age of 92, was master of Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) from 1976 to 1985 when he retired.

Because of the prestige of the vessel, which for many years was the fastest merchant ship in the world with a top speed of 32.5 knots, Captain Arnott became something of a celebrity.

The Captain, who lived on Rossall Grange Lane, Fleetwood, came into contact with many famous people and royalty and in 1977 was the subject of top TV show This Is Your Life.
Captain Arnott said after the liner’s withdrawal from service back in 2008: “It is the end of an era.

“I think she’s the finest liner ever built.

“I was the longest-serving captain.”

He was born in New South Wales, Australia, but his parents brought him to England as a child and he first went to sea at the age of 16 with the Blue Funnel Line.
Having survived submarine and air attack during
the war, he joined Cunard in 1947.

His funeral takes place at St Nicholas Church, Fleetwood, on Tuesday at 12.30pm prior to a ceremony at Carelton Crematorium at 1.30pm.

He was pre-deceased by wife Joan and leaves children Roger, Jan, Gill and Katy, and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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Obituary
Captain Robert Arnott - obituary

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


Captain Robert Arnott, the master of the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2, who has died aged 92, was known to the thousands of passengers who sailed with him in the heyday of passenger shipping simply as “Captain Bob”.

QE2, who in her 40-year career steamed (she was converted to diesel in 1986) almost six million miles and carried some 2.5 million passengers in style, comfort and luxury, was the most famous ship of her era and Arnott was her best-known, longest-serving master.


He began his long association with QE2 when he was appointed her chief officer in October 1967 and with her master, Captain William Warwick, he oversaw her building at John Brown’s yard on the Clyde.


Five years later he was appointed staff captain and he was soon tested when in mid-Atlantic he learnt that a telephone caller in the United States had placed a bomb on board and was threatening to blow up the ship unless he received a large ransom. Arnott organised a search, and after QE2 had made a rendezvous with a section of the Royal Marines’ Special Boat Service who had parachuted into the sea, a trunk, later found to contain nothing more than dirty laundry, was blown open. The hoaxer was arrested in New York.


Arnott became master of QE2 in October 1976. The job brought him into contact with many famous passengers, and he himself became a celebrity. In 1977 he was the subject of the television show This Is Your Life, hosted by Eamonn Andrews and broadcast live from mid-Channel. It took a year’s planning and a conspiracy among his officers to smuggle Andrews, the other guests, including Arnott’s wife, and the television crew aboard at Cherbourg, with co-operation of the French authorities. When he was persuaded on to the stage by a subterfuge, the surprise was complete.


After 45 years at sea and nine years as master of QE2 he retired in 1985.

Bob Arnott (back row, second from left) with other former captains of QE2
Bob Arnott (back row, second from left) with other former captains of QE2

Arnott’s autobiography, Captain of the Queen (1982) was a masterpiece of discreet disclosure tinged with titillation. “Rich and beautiful people,” he wrote, “can be just as dangerous as anyone else when jealous passions are aroused”, but as to the identity of an American lady who flounced her skirts, danced on his table and offered $1,000 to anyone who would sleep with her, he was silent. She became the only passenger whom he ever put ashore – in La Guaira, Venezuela – “for her own safety,” he explained.

He was fascinated by his guests’ eating habits: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor preferred steak and kidney pie, Noel Coward liked bangers and mash, and Kay Kendall favoured cottage pie. Victor Mature, he noted, could demolish a 12lb roast turkey at a sitting; the actor once signed a menu-card: “Cunard cooking is as great as sex – almost”.

Alan Whicker, in another television programme, Whicker’s World: A Fast Boat to China (1984), described the master as a holiday version of Jack Hawkins, and Arnott wrote that the skills of a passenger liner’s master included “a doctorate in diplomacy, joke appreciation, drinking and table talk and 1,000 other skills which I am still researching”.

Arnott thought that QE2 was the finest liner ever built; nevertheless he was critical of her builders. “There were two QE2s,” he wrote. “Because so much of the original was squirrelled… the project was dogged not only by pilfering but by technical problems and industry disputes within the dying Clyde shipbuilding industry… It nearly bankrupted Cunard.”

Robert Harry Arnott was born on July 17 1923 in Hamilton, New South Wales, but his parents, recent émigrés, were homesick and returned to Bury, Lancashire, while he was a baby. He was educated at Bury High School and Fleetwood Grammar School.

In 1940 he joined the Blue Funnel Line as a midshipman and spent the war at sea. In early June 1942 he was a junior officer in Antilochus when he spotted some survivors from the torpedoed Blue Funnel ship Mentor in a lifeboat (one of them was Peter Jackson, whom Arnott would later relieve as master of QE2). Arnott celebrated VE Day in Fremantle, Western Australia, and VJ Day in Sydney, New South Wales.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor aboard QE2
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor aboard QE2 Photo: Getty

After the war, Arnott left Blue Funnel Line for a brief period with the Pacific Navigation Company.

In 1947 he joined Cunard Line, where three years later he gained his master’s certificate. The same year he joined the 1939-built Queen Elizabeth as a junior third officer, and in 1952 he moved to the three-funnelled Queen Mary. In 1953 he was commissioned into the Royal Naval Reserve, and in the 1950s and 1960s he served in and commanded several of Cunard’s other cargo and passenger ships.

Ashore, Arnott was a Freemason and member of the venerable Hesketh Lodge from 1946. He had a keen eye for the ball and played rugby for Fleetwood and Fylde, cricket for Fleetwood, and excelled at squash. He was a member of the British Squash Racquets Association and once, when the American tennis champion Doris Hart was a passenger in Queen Elizabeth, Arnott was flattered to be asked to show her the game. His favourite golf courses were in Bermuda. He was a member of Fleetwood Golf Club and, when his golfing days were over, he enjoyed snooker and dominoes with friends.

Despite his lengthy absences at sea, Arnott was a devoted family man. He married Joan Hardern in 1948; she predeceased him in 2006 and he is survived by their son and three daughters.

Captain Robert Arnott, born July 17 1923, died August 27 2015
Bob Arnot second from left back row with HM Queen and all surviving QE2 Masters.

[j.sabourn]

Think he was a frequent visitor to the Marion Spout (probably spelt wrong) hotel, on the Yorkshire moors, stayed there one time with my family on the advise of a chief engineer. A lot of big names apparently used to use to get away from the maddening crowds. I stayed either 1 or 2 nights as found it a tad expensive. Was on a motoring holiday around the uk at the time. After that went the usual bed and breakfast. JS

[Captain Kong]

From THE Fleetwood Weekly News ....Obituaries...
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Robert Arnott : Obituary

Published in the Fleetwood Weekly News on 2nd September 2015 (Distributed in Fleetwood)

This notice has had 192 visitors and has one candle.
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ARNOTT
Robert Harry
(Captain Bob former Master of ''QE2'') Peacefully on Thursday 27th August aged 92 years. Beloved wife of the late Joan, Wonderful Father of Roger, Jan, Gill and Katy and a much loved father in law, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be very sadly missed by his family and friends.

Funeral service will take place at St Nicholas Parish Church on Tuesday 8th September at 12.30p.m prior to cremation at Carleton Crematorium at 1.30p.m. Family flowers only please donations in lieu if so desired to RNLI Fleetwood c/o the funeral directors. All enquires please to J P Dell Funeral Directors 168 Poulton Road Fleetwood FY7 7AW Tel 773333
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So I just missed it by two days
Brian

[Richard Quartermaine]

The following link was sent to me last Saturday by a close friend whose late father was aboard the old QE as troopship from Sydney to the Middle East:

My mother and I sailed New York/Southampton (via LeHavre) on the QE2 in October 1970. Think you might be interested in reading the following link:

Captain Robert Arnott - obituary - Telegraph

Richard

[Evan Lewis]

Looking at His Book. Captain of the Queens.
John. there is a Picture of Him at his Table. and a clear image of a Waiter. in the background. Who may well be. the friend you mentioned , at Perth.W.A The Photo was taken ,when He was briefly in command of the Cunard Adventurer , then on Caribbean Cruises.
Never sailed with him personally, but worked aboard the Q.E 2 ,when She arrived Melb. On her First Visit.
Spent most of the time on board , Meeting acquaintances , And in the Crew Bar.. Consequently losing my then Girl friend , as had promised for days ,to take her aboard. When She rang that Evening , I was Speechless, And She was weeping. 'Nother romance ,bit the dust!