Russell Fitton

Born: February 28, 1957; Died: August 23, 2014.

CAPTAIN Russell Fitton - Russ to friends and shipmates - was a family man, a Master Mariner, a fellow officer, a Nautilus member and a true gentleman. He passed away at home in Dunragit, Dumfries & Galloway, as a result of a pulmonary embolism.

He was born in Nelson, Lancashire, the son of John and Sheila Fitton. He had three brothers, Lawrence - who died a few years ago - Andrew and Julian.

He attended Nelson Grammar School, and upon leaving he joined the General Cargo Division of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company in September 1973, as a deck cadet.

He studied at Riversdale College of Technology from 1973 to 1977. After completing his cadetship, he sailed as third, second and chief officer on deep-sea cargo ships. He also obtained his Master's Certificate at John Moores Institute in Liverpool.

He received a surprise promotion when he had to step up to command when the master of his ship became unwell and was hospitalised. Russ took the Wellington Star from Auckland to Los Angeles.

He was an active man and had many interests, including sub-aqua diving, skiing, motorbikes, horse-riding and piloting light aircraft.

Russ and Sue were married in 1982 at St Phillip Church in Nelson, and had three children - Stuart, born in 1984, Craig, born in 1987, and Andre, born in 1992. In 2010, Stuart married Rachel, and three years later provided Russ and Sue with a granddaughter, Isla, with whom they were both besotted - and they were equally excited at the prospect of another grandchild on the way.

In 1992, with a young family, Russ decided to seek employment closer to home. Fast ferries suited his need for speed. He joined Seacat as navigator and quickly achieved command of the Seacat Scotland.

A move to Stena Line soon got him on to the HSS where he sailed as first officer and chief officer before being passed out as master, stepping up to command as required.

He made the transition to conventional ferries in 2010 when the mighty HSS started to wind down towards her demise. He had to relearn about ships of steel with propellers and rudders and only one hull. He got his appointed command with Stena Line upon the introduction of the Superfast ships sailing to Belfast from the new Stena terminal at Cairnryan.

Russ was the training master on Stena Superfast VIII where he trained new staff, particularly the annual intake of summer seasonal workers. He also organised all the requisite training for officers and crew.

In 1992, while on the Seacat in the port of Stranraer, an incident occurred with a shoreside crane which fell into the dock, trapping some dockworkers in the water.

Without any thought for his own safety, Russ quickly donned the diving equipment which he had in his car at the time, dived into the dock and became part of the rescue attempt to free the workers.

As an avid member of the Riversdale Rambling Club, and as a regular participant at the happy reunions, he will be very sadly missed.

If three words could describe the life and character of this lovely man, they would be: honourable, dependable and good-humoured.