Favourite captain of QE2?

[Cruisemarsh]

So for those who have travelled on the QE2, which was your favourite captain?


Mine is between Roland Hassell, Ian McNaught and Nick Bates, they were captain on three of my QE2 travels. The other two trips, Paul Wright and Ronald Warwick who were good also.

[Mauretania1907]

Captain Bennell (not sure how to spell his name, he was Captain on my one and only trip in 1989)

[QE2 Canuck]

In my 8 voyages on QE2, I met John Burton Hall (my first), Keith Stanley, Roland Hasel, Paul Wright, Ron Warwick, Ian McNaught and lastly David Perkins......I couldn't choose just one favourite, but I guess I have to say in this order, Ian McNaught, Paul Wright and Ron Warwick are at the top of the list.

Linda

[RmsAquitania]

Of the two captains i got to talk to, I have to say that i much preffered Captain Mcnaught, Capt Perkins was ok but mcnaught just seemed to have that added extra with his strong love for the QE2.

[bswan]

Ronald Warwick and Ian Mcnaught are my favourites. True gentlemen

[QE2 whistle]

Captain McNaught was my favourite because he was so passionate about QE2 and so friendly.  He sat at the table next to us with his wife on two nights in the Mauretania Restaurant on the final voyage to Dubai.  He never passe without saying hello!

[Rod]

Warwick Senior, and Jackson!

[Lynda Bradford]

Favourite Captain of QE2 has to be Captain McNaught whose love for QE2 was evident when he was onboard the ship.  I also liked Captain Warwick, especially as he had issued an invite to passengers to visit the bridge when we were onboard a Norway cruise in 2001. 

[lewisstone]

My favourite captain was Captain Doug Ridley, As a winger in the Britannia resi I was sitting on the stairs that ran between the Queens Grill and the main kitchen, having a cup of tea in-between sittings there was no one else around at the time and Captain Ridley came down the stairs from the Queens Grill sat on the stairs next to me and we chatted for about 10 minutes, it was the first and only time in my merchant navy career that a captain had time to speak to me other than on duty.

[Lynda Bradford]

Lewis that is a lovely story of Captain Ridley, who had taken time to sit and talk to you, so I can see why he is your favourite Captain. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Mine would be Nick Bates and Ian McNaught. Both for the same reason as that mentioned by Lynda (they so very clearly loved QE2) and for that mentioned by Lewis (what an excellent moment to recall, Lewis!) -- they were ready to talk and to give us a moment of their time when we met them.

But perhaps Nick Bates comes out right on top... not only did he always have a friendly and personal remark for us when we met him, but he also did something special for Pia. There was a time we both rushed out on deck in the late evening because there was something we wanted to see immediately (I guess it was the pilot disembarking). Pia tripped on her long dress and fell face first down the few steps and onto the deck. Just a couple of moments later, two security officers appeared on the scene and interviewed her whether she was all right, and whether she needed to be accompanied back to her cabin or to the doctor's. They had been sent by Nick Bates, who had observed the dramatic episode from the Bridge -- and ever thereafter he always had something to joke about with her!

[June Ingram]

It is absolutely wonderful to read about the QE2 captains and each person's remembrances. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I also loved the stories which Nick Bates told us every day at the time of his noon briefing. Every day, he had a little seafaring tale that make us chuckle. It was good that he went on to publish them as a little book!

And I have a vivid memory of almost bumping into Nick Bates, emerging from a "Crew Only" door just as I was passing in the alleyway. We had last seen him a year earlier on Caronia, and now he was the Master of QE2. I asked him how the transfer had been. His reply : "I thought I had died and gone to Heaven!". Even thinking about it now, I remember that his reply almost took me to Heaven with him ... he really loved QE2...

I am so glad that he will be participating in the QE2 Conference next September -- it will be great to see him again!

[June Ingram]

Hi Isabelle - It is great to hear about your memories of Captain Bates and of what he said.  It will indeed be wonderful to see him at our QE2 Conference next September ! Isn't it amazing regarding QE2's effect on everyone !  June   

[Rob Lightbody]

Given that Nick Bates is coming to our 50th anniversary event next year, can we invite him to participate in an 'Ask the Captain' for our website?

Previously on Ask the Captain :-

https://www.theqe2story.com/features/IanMcNaught.html

https://www.theqe2story.com/features/BillCooper.html

https://www.theqe2story.com/features/RonaldWarwick.html

https://www.theqe2story.com/features/RobinWoodall.html