Captain "robin" Doe Rn Ret

[Captain Ludd]

I will miss Robin a lot, he and his wife Ellie taught me to sail. A great man passes.........

CAPTAIN RV DOE ROYAL NAVY

Charles Robert Vaughan Doe, usually known as Robin, was born in Scotland and after studying law and accountancy at St Andrew's University joined the Royal Navy as an Aviation Cadet in 1950.

Robin trained as a pilot with the United States Navy at Pensacola and was awarded his wings after successful Hellcat landings on USS Moterey. Returning to UK he began his fixed wing career in Avengers and Fireflies before moving on to Seahawks. In 1962 he transferred to helicopters and after Senior Pilot appointments progressed to command 706, 814 and 700H squadrons.

By this time a General List Officer he was promoted to Commander and his next appointment was in command of HMS Troubridge, followed in 1970 by a desk job in DNAW. He returned to aviation as Commander (Air) of Culdrose during which time HRH Prince Charles completed his helicopter training.

Wings of HMS Hermes followed in 1973. Next stop was Naval Attache, Tehran in the final days of the Shah's reign. Command of HMS Glasgow ensued in 1978 prior to his becoming Director of Naval Air Warfare, the last officer to hold this post. His final appointment in 1983 was Captain of HMS Osprey and Flag Captain to Flag Officer Sea Training during which he was responsible for all ships taken up from trade and naval ships called forward for operations in the Falklands.

During his long succession of mainly flying jobs he accumulated 4,500 flying hours, qualified as a flying Instructor both fixed wing and helicopters, commanded three squadrons, a Frigate and a Destroyer, and had been Commander (Air) both at Culdrose and in HMS Hermes. This was a remarkable record of service on the part of an officer who was not Fleet Entry when joining the Royal Navy.

The pace and solid achievement of Robin's career are standing tributes to him as an exceptional naval officer, a good and considerate leader who encouraged promise wherever he spotted it, and who earned the confidence of the people he led. Always determined to do his best he set high standards, but on occasions turned a blind eye to regulations in order to achieve results. Had he been a Devonian rather than Dundonian, he would have been found serving with the likes of Hawkins and Drake.

On leaving the Navy Robin was recruited by Ernest Sanders at Guinness and he enjoyed a second career in business until eight years later he decided he wanted a change from London and started a third career, this time as owner of a sailing school; first in Buckinghamshire, then on the Solent and finally in Greece.

His last years in Croscombe, Somerset were marred by the onset of Alzheimer's disease bravely borne. To the end he continued to contribute to society singing in the parish choir and chairing the Shepton Mallet Alzheimer's Society. He has been described by a friend as a man whom it was a pleasure to know; a man with a large sense of fun who played as hard as he worked; a prime mover who could take the weight and who led from the front; a loyal and generous colleague and a man whose family and friends held in high respect and deepest affection.

He is survived by his first wife Sally, their two sons and a daughter and their families, and by his second wife Ellie.

[Captain Ludd]

Just noticed Robbies picture has gone so I thought I would upload another.

Thinking of you, gone but not forgotten.

[IMG][/IMG]