Hi Michael. this is my note to you this afternoon on which I will try to elaborate. (Did you note that I did not end the sentence with a preposition per Mr Thacker?)
It is my very great sorrow to tell you of the passing of a superb Old Pricean. He was Anthony(Tony) Cawte. Tony was a pupil through some of the war years and thereafter. He was apprenticed in Portsmoth Dockyard and then joined Cunard as a Junior Engineer. I was 10 years behind him so did not meet himuntil1964. He was Second Engineer on the RMS Mauretania when I was Third. It was at this time we realised we were both Old Priceans. He was a superb Engineer as well as an excellent shipmate and leader. His way of heading a team of Engineers was so professinal that I modelled myself on him ( as best I could) throughout my working life. He left Cunard having reached the heights of Staff Chief Engineeer. Regrettably he died on 24th September, having been domicilled in Texas, USA for some years, at the age of 92. He last visited the uk in 2015 and addressed a gathering of the Queen Mary Association where we were very pleased to welcome him. Maybe gone but not forgotten and a credit to Prices School.
Tony had three sons all of whom spent time at Prices. They are Steve, Chris and Martin.
I will try to put, as best I can, the fact that Tony knew all that was required to run a large ocean going liner not only from an Engineers point of view but perhaps something a little different. For example...... during each trip across the Atlantic, as a Junior Engineer, it was my job during the first 8 hours or so after leaving port, to go around the passenger accomodation to try to identify the likely female passengers, of a certain age group, and decide whom we may like to invite to a Wardroom Party one or two days out of port. Our trip time across the Atlantic on the Mauretania was 6/7 days. Assuming this occurred the party would be from about 6.00pm onwards. If Tony had the time he would always attend. Tony was a good looking tall man of about mid thirties and as Staff Chief Engineer had 4 gold rings on his arm and on his entry into the Wardroom he "took over" the attention of the attendees to the detriment of the others. It was a moment to behold. However he seldom stayed long and disappeared back to his 'proper' duties.
Tony was an excellent disciplinarian but always fair. He always had time to explain the job, how the engines worked and how the Juniors should approach their work. Nevertheless he could be somewhat different should you not take note of what he had said.
During his final years he was diagnosed with Parkinsons and his balance was very much affected together with his speech becoming somewhat slurred. He fell and damaged his pelvis though I don't know more details than that. A dissertation has been put together and is with David Goldring for publication next year.