CHIEF OFFICER(E) WILLIAM (WILLIE) PLASTOW CROSSED THE BAR, SITREP4 (280)

Crossed the Bar

Sitrep 1, Remembrances

Sitrep 2. Change of Date for the Funeral

Sitrep 3. Donations in lieu of flowers

Sitrep 4 Correction to the time of the Funeral

It is with so much sadness that I report that Chief Officer(E) William (Willie) Plastow crossed the bar aged 90. I have no more information at the moment but I am on the case. Willie lived in Edinburgh until March when he moved to London to live with his son and daughter in law.

I have had an e-mail from Willie’s son David today (19 Sept 2017) and have been informed that funeral arrangements are now finalised. The funeral will take place at 12:00 on TUESDAY 26th September 2017, not 11:00 as previously declared at Warriston Crematorium Edinburgh (HERE for their website and HERE for a map).

Old colleagues and shipmates will be welcomed at the funeral and to join his family for refreshements afterwards.

Family flowers only by request, donations, if desired should be made, in Willie’s name to the RNLI, HERE for their website.

Willie’s beloved wife of 64 years, Betty, predeceased him in October last year,

On behalf of the RFA Association I offer our sincere condolences to his son David and all his family.

If you have any remembrances of Willie please email it to me at captain.pat@rfaa.uk and I will post them on this page. I am also looking for photographs of Willie for this piece and the RFA Association Gallery and Archive, If you have one please email it to me.

Chief Officer(E) Willie Plastow

1927 – 2017

Photo taken at his 60th Wedding Anniversary

Remembrances:-

Alex Blackwood writes:- So truly sorry to hear of Willies passing. I had the pleasure and privilege of sailing with Willie in Regent in the early seventies. I think it was in Mayport in 71 that we crept into Willies cabin and put a stuffed alligator in his bath. He was most taken aback at about 03:00 !

RIP Willie. One of life’s true Gentlemen.
Alex Blackwood.
Pat Thompson writes:- I sailed with Willie a couple of times over the years, he was a true gentleman and a pleasure, from a Deck Officer’s point of view, to do business with. He was also one of the Founder Members of the RFA Association, membership number 7, one of the original “Geordie Mafia”.

Dave Burns writes :- Just one memory about Bill stands out in my memory. My first appointment was to stand by the final few months of Tidepool’s build at Hawthorne Leslie’s early in 1963. I was second lecky and Bill was a third engineer. One day Charlie Ward who was first lecky told me to look after things as he and Bill were going to to inspect some machinery at Clarke Chapmans ( ATWs I presume). Anyway the following day both of them were rather subdued. It appeared they had gone to the races at Gosforth Park and were spotted on local tv by Charlie’s wife! Oh happy days!

Dave Burns