John Williamson

Post date: Jun 18, 2015 9:38:59 PM

Dear SCARA Member,

Malcolm Coomer has given us the sad news that John Williamson passed away on Sunday 14th June 2015.

John joined the Southampton Terminal team around 1978 as AGM Terminal. This was the time the South African Trade was being introduced and was a period when the future of Southampton as a major port was put at risk by a number of industrial disputes. John remained at the terminal until the end of 1983 when he took up a position in Colombo. A spell in Mumbai followed before he returned to Beagle House from where he took retirement.

John Williamson's funeral will take place on the 29th June at 13:30 at Poole Crematorium, Gravel Hill, Broadstone, Poole, Dorset BH17 9BQ.

Kind regards,

Belinda McCormack

SCARA Hon.Sec.

Ian Thomson has very kindly provided a couple of photos of John Williamson taken on the Glen Line vessel MV Glenearn in the 1960s:

From left to right: Dr Errol Tomkins, 2nd Mate John Williamson

and 3rd Mate Ian Thomson

2nd Officer John Williamson (head inside the lifebuoy)

with Dr Errol Tomkins

The ship that John Williamson sailed on with Ian Thomson had an interesting and illustrious history. The MV Glenearn was built in Dundee for Glen Line in 1938 and was the first of a class of eight ships. She saw service in World War 2 as HMS Glenearn. Flying the white ensign as a Landing Ship Infantry (LSI) the operations that she took part in included Crete and D-Day. The end of the war found her in the Pacific.

In commercial service the Glenearn could perform a number of roles. She was fitted with heavy-lift derricks and had extensive refrigerated cargo space. She also had six large hatches for the carriage of vegetable oils in bulk and had accommodation for passengers.

MV Glenearn was sold to a Taiwanese shipbreaker in 1970.

See:

Following John's funeral, Ian has also kindly provided copies from the Order of Service. Ian has identified the yacht on the first image below as John's boat 'Scot Free' and thinks the photograph in the second may have been taken just after he was promoted to 2nd Officer: