Colin Saint
A week ago the sad news about the passing of Colin Saint was announced on the OCL Bay Boats (sea staff) Facebook group. Colin had sailed with OCL, P&O Containers and P&O Nedlloyd as a Petty Officer Navigation (PON or Bosun) for a number of years.
We owe a debt of thanks to Colin's friends, Pete & Sue Loosemore, for this wonderful tribute to Colin, a man who was very highly thought of by his shipmates and friends.
Colin's funeral is being held on Thursday 2 January 2025 at 12:30.
The venue is:
Chanterlands Large Chapel
Chanterlands Avenue
Hull
HU5 4EF
COLIN SAINT
BOSUN
19/9/1937 – 8/12/2024
It is with great sadness I wish to report the passing of Colin Saint in the early hours on Sunday 8th December 2024 in hospital in Hull. He was 87 years of age.
Colin will of course be very sadly missed by his wife Judy, son Colin Jnr and grandson Matty and all their families.
Colin spent over 40 years at sea however in the early days of his life Colin joined the army serving as a radio operator. After he left the army he tried his hand as an apprentice jockey, yes I did say apprentice jockey!
His sea life then started on the fishing trawlers in Hull which he thoroughly enjoyed despite the difficult conditions he worked under. I believe his first ship was the SS Bravo, his first “Proper Ship”, which was a nice little 4 hatch ship. He always called the old conventional ships “Proper Ships”. You remember the ones with the ‘sticks’ sticking up (derricks). Several other Shipping Companies followed including Castle Line, Esso (tankers) where he stayed for a few years then onto the ‘Port Napier’ in 1968 before a brief stint on the Shaw Saville ‘Northern Star’.
Next came OCL in 1971 his first ship was the ‘Jervis Bay’. This is of course where the majority of us remember him from. He stayed with the Company until 1999 where his final voyage was on P&O ‘Kobe’.
He then of course retired which gave him a lot more time to enjoy with his family and to restore his beloved Ford Escort with his son Colin Jnr which was a 20 year project and was only completed at the beginning of this year. Colin’s other enjoyment in his retirement was his monthly meeting at the Hull Branch of the Merchant Navy Association, which he attended with his wife Judy, where he was able to reminisce about dodging derricks, chain blocks, runners and how to expertly drop an anchor etc.
I am sure we all have many anecdotes we can tell about Colin but there would be far too many to review here.
He was quite obviously an extremely well liked and respected member of the OCL, P&O Nedlloyd Community. Colin’s family were totally overwhelmed and unaware of his popularity amongst his shipmates.
Pete Loosemore
Our deepest sympathies go to Colin's family and friends.
Details for Colin's funeral are not available at the time of writing but will follow once announced.
16/12/2024
22/12/2024 (funeral information)