Commodore Ronald Wilfred Warwick, OBE, Lt. Cdr RNR FNI LLDFirst command of QE2: 26 July 1990
Last command of QE2: 14 March 2003
Thank-you to Cunard for the use of the photo for this feature.
Follow link to comment or to contribute informationBackground:Commodore Ron Warwick's father was Commodore William Warwick, QE2's first Captain. They made history in 1990 by sailing in command of the same ship the QE2. Captain Ron Warwick started his sailing career onboard the RMS Andes in the 1950's. He joined Cunard Line in the 1970 and remained with them for 36 years.
Navy Career:1961: Gained second mate certificate
1967: Chief Officer of a Cargo ship
1968: Obtained Master Certificate
1970: Joined Cunard line as third officer on Carmania
1972: Second Officer onboard QE2 at the time of the mid Atlantic bomb scare (May 1972)
1975: Navigator onboard QE2 for her first world cruise
1982: Chief Officer onboard QE2 during the Falklands War
1986: First Command as Captain of Cunard Princess
1990: Appointed as Master of QE2. Made history by sailing in command of the same ship as his father, Commodore William E. Warwick.
1990: Master of QE2 at the time of Cunard’s 150th anniversary and Queen Elizabeth II visit for the Spithead celebrations
1996: Appointed Marine Superintendent of the Cunard line fleet
2001: Conducted his daughter's marriage ceremony onboard QE2, Boston Harbour, in October 2001 (The ceremony was conducted in accordance with a special license issued by Massachusetts and was the first legal marriage in living memory carried out by a Cunard Master onboard any of Cunard's ships.)
2002: Elected president of the Annual Merchant Navy Memorial Service and was president for 2002 and 2003
2002: Appointed as Master designate of Queen Mary 2 at the keel laying ceremony of the ship on 4 July 2002
2003: Appointed as Commodore of the Cunard fleet
2004: Master onboard QM2 for her maiden voyage on 12 January 2004
2006: Retired after 48 years at sea 36 years were with Cunard Line
Also served on Cunard Adventurer, Cunard Countess, Cunard Princess, Crown Dynasty
Awards:2004: Awarded the Shipmaster of the Year award from the Nautical Institute and Lloyds List in February 2004.
2004: Awarded the Silver Riband Award by the Ocean Liner Council of the South Street Seaport Museum for his lifetime achievement in the maritime industry. This was presented onboard QM2 in New York
2005: Awarded OBE in the Queens Birthday honours
2005: Received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Liverpool
2005: Awarded the Merchant Navy Medal and was elected a Honourary Fellow of the Institute of Transport Administration
2006: He was elected an Honourary Member of The Company of Master Mariners of Canada
2007: Received the Honourary Degree of Doctor of Maritime Studies from Southampton Solent University.
Quote from Buckingham Covers Biography of Commodore Ronald W Warwick OBE FNI LLD :
“Commodore Warwick is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, a founder member and Fellow of the Nautical Institute, Governor of the Marine Society, Patron of the Cunard Steamship Society, President of The Merchant Mariners, Life President of the Queen Mary Association, Honourary President of the ROL Cruise Club and Vice President of the Bristol Ship Society. The Commodore holds the rank of Honourary Captain in the British Royal Naval Reserve.”
Books:Author of QE2 the Cunard line flagship published in 1985. The work was revised and updated by Captain Warwick in 1994 and again in 1999.
Media and Information sources:Cruise Critic.co.uk
http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=293QM2 – The Cunarder Line QM2*
http://www.qm2.org.uk/captain_rww.htmlCunard Steamship Society
http://cunardsteamshipsociety.com/who-we-are/Buckingham First Day Covers
http://www.buckinghamcovers.com/shop/signer.php?signer_id=458The Free Library – Captain Warwick to host final voyage after 36 years of service
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cunard's+Commodore+Warwick+to+Host+Final+Voyage+After+36+Years+of...-a0147740393Queen Elizabeth 2 web page - Captain Robin Woodall, Bomb Scare 1972 with mention of Second Officer Warwick being in the launch party that picked up the parachutists
http://www.rmsqueenelizabeth2.com/bomb72.htmlGuardian article - "Me and my travels" Interview with Commodore Warwick 26 June 2006
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2006/jun/25/observerescape3Cruisemates.com - Commanding the Queen Elizabeth 2
http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/qe2command.cfmQM2 Captains
https://www.qm2.org.uk/captain_rww.htmlThe QE2 Story Discussion Topics Featuring Captain Ron Warwick:Ask the Captain - Commodore Ronald Warwick, answers questions posed by members of TheQE2Story Forum
https://www.theqe2story.com/features/RonaldWarwick.htmlQE2, The Cunard Line Flagship, Queen Elizabeth 2, by Captain Ronald W Warwick
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,4099.0.htmlA January 2009 report from Captain R W Warwick
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,421.0.htmlCaptain Ron Warwick remembers his time on Cunard ships
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7337.msg80331.html#msg80331 Back to list of QE2 Masters
