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We are very sorry to have to pass on the sad news about the passing of another SCARA member, Captain Bob Eaton.
Bob's wife Dinah kindly informed us of his passing and has given her permission for us to use the eulogy, published below, together with details for the thanksgiving service.
Colleagues will be very welcome but please note, if you are planning to attend the funeral please inform Dinah Eaton as requested.
Our thoughts are with Dinah and the family at this sad time.
Belinda McCormack
SCARA Membership Secretary
“Bob was born on 4 April 1940 in Bexleyheath, Kent and attended the London Choir School before joining HMS WORCESTER in May 1955 for two years. This was followed by an Outward Bound Course at Eskdale in the Lake District before joining P&O as a Cadet.
His first ship was BALLARAT followed by SUNDA, ADEN and CORAMANDEL. After obtaining his 2nd Mate’s Certificate he re-joined SUNDA and between 1961 and 1962 had three collisions. Next was ORIANA followed by CHUSAN where he met Dinah, née Hastings. His next ship was IBERIA, then CANNANORE. He and Dinah were married in 1966 and he then joined ORSOVA, followed by dock staff and coastal and short cruises in SURAT, STRATHCONNON and ARCADIA, before spending most of 1968 in IBERIA.
He came ashore in 1968 working for Overseas Containers, based in London but over the next two years spent much of the time in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Tilbury as Ship-Planner. He was later based in Southampton as Manager of OCL’s Australian trade and then Cargo Manager and worldwide trade sales up to 1988.
Back under the P&O Containers flag and in London office, he was Sales Manager and Senior Business Analyst but was made redundant in 1990 so he returned to a life at sea with Geest Line sailing to and from the Caribbean islands carrying general cargo and bananas. This lasted for four years when Geest sold their ships and Bob rejoined P&O Containers but this time at sea on their container ships for three years. On retiring in 1998, he became summer relief Master with Wightlink on their Lymington to Yarmouth route for three years.
After 47 years living in Brockenhurst, Bob and Dinah moved to Milford on Sea overlooking the Solent. 12 years later, after some health problems, they moved to Tring to be near two of their three daughters. With further failing health, Bob went into a care home in November 2024 and he died on January 31st 2025 aged 84.”
Bob and Dinah attended the 2022 SCARA gathering in Southampton (in the photograph on the left he is pictured at the event sat between his good friend Ian Thomson and Richard Lewis).
Like some other colleagues, Bob was unfortunately unable to join us for the annual Southampton reunion for the last two years for mobility reasons (the venue for our curry lunches had no lift) but with access improved for this year we were hoping that he might somehow be able to attend this year's event. When we come together again in April he will be missed and we will raise a glass in his memory.
Dinah has also kindly provided the following information on Bob's Thanksgiving service:
Thanksgiving service to celebrate Bob’s life on:
Thursday 27 February at 11am at the Bierton Crematorium, Cane End Lane, Bierton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5BH
Followed by a gathering and buffet lunch between 12pm and 4pm at:
Please let Dinah know if you plan to come to the gathering (please contact scarasecretary@gmail.com and we will forward your message on to Dinah).
Rather than floral tributes, the family have asked for donations to Bob’s chosen charities:
Neuroblastoma UK (see https://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/31-01-2025-robert-matthew-eaton/), or
The Mission to Seafarers (https://missiontoseafarers.org/donate/)
The Thanksgiving service will be live-streamed and can be watched via https://watch2.obitus.com/login (username: mago8528 and Password: 549303). The recording should remain available for up to 28 days afterwards.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Dinah, the other members of his family and his friends.
14/02/2025
Updated with SCARA notice 15/02/2025
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