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We have had the very sad news of the passing of SCARA member Bob James last week. At the time of his retirement from the company Bob was Fleet Personnel Manager in Beagle House, and was a regular attendee at our Annual Reunion Lunch events in London and the lunchtime gatherings in Stanford-le-Hope.
In the photo on the right, Bob is pictured with another former seastaff member, John Harpur at the 2023 SCARA Annual Reunion Lunch in London on 9 November 2023.
Bob was an active Facebook user, and his posts on there have always given us a rich insight into his life at sea.
Bob was an Electrical Officer on P&O's Canberra, sailing on her during her early years as a passenger ship on liner voyages to and from Australia.
In 1966 Bob sailed on the mv Cannamore, 7,065 GRT. She was built by Barclay Curle & Co Ltd in 1949 for P&O's Calcutta trade. The image on the left is from Bob's Facebook feed (it will be very familiar to his many friends as he used it on there as his profile picture). The accompanying text reads:
"1966. It was a pier head jump the company said 'just sail on her from Liverpool to Hamburg a couple of weeks' 11 months later I arrived back in the UK".
"...The ship was an old bucket that could only do 8 knots at best but a great bunch of engineers who grafted day and night to keep her going and it was curry and beer that kept us going, great days"
"The dog was a £10 Pom on his way to Aussie. That bit of rust was the best part of the ship. Every time the mate had the crew chipping more holes appeared so he gave up. She was the MV Cannanore and went to the scrap yard the next year"
Bob joined OCL and sailed on the Encounter Bay Class as a '2OL' (Electrical Officer). In 1974 he was flown out to Las Palmas to join the Botany Bay following her collision with the Russian vessel 'Neman' (Bob contributed to the Botany Bay and the Neman article published on this website in July 2023).
By the late 1970s Bob was ashore working in the Fleet Personnel Department as assistant to Derek Smith. He remained in that role with OCL, P&O Containers and P&O Nedlloyd, becoming Fleet Personnel & Training Manager. Bob retired from P&O Nedlloyd in the early 2000s.
After retiring from PONL, Bob helped out at the Tilbury branch of the Missions to Seafarers. Amongst the roles that he took on there was driving the minibus that transported crew members to and from the ships berthed in the port to the Mission.
A Sailor For The Lord
For where else would an Old Jack Tar Be?
But riding the waves, and tasting the brine.
Out there, on God’s Heavenly Seas.
With fair weather assured every voyage.
No storms. No clouds in the Sky.
And with calm blue waters to sail on.
And ever, bright Stars to steer by.
A fine, sturdy Ship to sail in.
And revered old Shipmates to crew.
And with an Angel riding the Masthead.
And Land, now long out of view.
What more could an Old Mat lo wish for?
Than to serve as a Tar for the Lord.
So welcome, Old Sailor. Now the tide’s on the ebb.
And it’s an honour to have you aboard.
Bob had already been involved with the Sea Cadets long before he retired from PONL, having enlisted in 1984 as a Sub-Lieutenant. In total he served for nearly 42 years and received successive promotions, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander. The responsibilituies that he took on at various times included Commander of the Thurrock Sea Cadet unit, a District Officer and at one point superintendent of the former RN Ton-class minesweeper HMS Iveston when she was moored at Tilbury for use by the Sea Cadets.
Bob's passing was announced on the TS Dragon - Thurrock Sea cadets and Royal Marine Cadets Facebook page on Wednesday 3 June. Their tribute included the poem on the left, written by Richard John Scarr. It seemed appropriate to repeat it here.
{Image right: Included in the Sea Cadets' Facebook tribute to Bob. Photo credit TS Dragon - Thurrock Sea Cadets]
The arrangements for Bob's funeral are not yet known, but once they become available we will share them here.
Bob was one of life's gentlemen, and he will be much missed. Our deepest condolences go to his family and friends.
09/06/2026
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