Sitrep 1, Funeral arrangements.
Sitrep 2, Tributes and remembrances,
Sitrep 3. More information.
It is with so much sadness that I report that Chief Officer Andrew (Andy) Gudgeon QGM RFA(Retd) Crossed the Bar yesterday (03.12.17) evening aged 58 after a short illness.
Sitrep 1. Received from Chris Locke, Andy’s Funeral is scheduled to take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Wednesday 13th December at 14:40 (HERE for their website and HERE for a map). After the service there will be a gathering at his local Village Hall in Seavington to celebrate his life (HERE for their website and HERE for a map). Lesley said they had planned it together and that this is what he wanted. I am no facebook man but could you post the date and time of the service on the RFAA page as I know many would wish to know and possibly attend.
Sitrep 3. The funeral arrangements are being made by A.J. Wakely & Son Ltd., Illminster.(HERE for their website and HERE for a map)
Please, family flowers only but, if desired donations can be made in lieu and in Andy’s name to Brain Tumour Research (HERE for their website), and the RFA Association (HERE ).
On behalf of the RFA Association I offer our sincere condolences to Lesley and all his family.
Chief Officer(X) RFA(Retd) Andy Gudgeon
1959 – 2017
For Andy’s obituary publiched in the Daily Telegraph 8 Feb 2018 click HERE
If you have any remembrances of Andy 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 Andy for this piece and the RFA Association Gallery and Archive, If you have one please email it to me.
Josh Gudgeon Writes:- I sailed with Andy in 2012. I joined RFA Gold Rover my first trip as a motorman aged 18 in the Falkland Islands. I thought I would never see the day I would meet anyone else in England with the last name Gudgeon, never mind on an RFA ship, but I stepped on board and met Chief Officer Gudgeon.
We spoke many times on ship about his relatives and my relatives. He told me one of his children was in the process of making a family tree. As I am originally from Birkenshaw, near Bradford in West Yorkshire. We came to the conclusion that we must be from the same family. Unfortunately, he paid off ship and I never got the chance to cross paths again during our careers to get the answer.
I am still serving in the RFA as an Engineering Officer currently on Tiderace in Falmouth.
He was such a lovely man, and was truly humbling to talk to. I would ask that you pass on my sincerest condolences to his wife and family.
If there is any information regarding his funeral, I would like to pay my respects to a real gentleman of the RFA.
Kind regards
Josh Gudgeon
Third Officer Engineer
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Second Officer (X) Tanya Warner Writes :- I have a daft story of one of my trips with Andy.
Back when I was a cadet in 2004, I asked for a half day to go and get my hair cut. We all know that most folk ask for a half day to go and have a few beverages…. well I genuinely got my hair cut and coloured!! We had a mess run the same night and after 7 months at sea it needed sorting.
I got back to the ship which was in Plymouth and he saw me and was most shocked that I was a) sober and b) had actually got my hair cut. He said never to that date during his career in the RFA had anyone ever asked for a half day to get a haircut and actually get it done.
He was genuinely one of it not the kindest gentlemen I have had the pleasure of sailing with and for him being my boss. So mild mannered, honest, calm, helpful, fantastic mentor and selfless person that I’ve ever met.
Please pass this on to his family that they have my deepest sympathy and condolences. It’s a huge loss for the RFA family let alone to his own.
Kindest Regards
Second Officer (X) Tanya Warner
Joseph Anderson Writes :- I sailed with Andy twice as a last trip cadet and as a first trip NAV/OPS on Gold Rover in the south Atlantic on both occasions.
He was a great mentor and great friend. Always calm and knowledgable. As a last trip cadet he allowed me my own watch as a fort trip nav/ops he allowed me to all but run the ship.
I have enjoyed so many trips with him ashore, including mountain climbing in South Georgia, wine tasting in Stellenbosch, Rio carnival in Rio and New Year’s Eve on Copa cabana beach.
So sad he is gone.
Joseph Anderson