Sea captain who oversaw dramatic launches and rescues dies

The Herald Scotland

22-06-2025

Died: April 26, 2025
Captain John MacLeod, who has died aged 91, was a sea captain and Clyde river pilot. As the special pilot for Scott Lithgow's during its heyday of shipbuilding on the Clyde he oversaw some of the most complex vessel launches ever performed.
At over 250 000 tons, the crude carriers The Nordic Clansman and World Score were constructed in two sections, at the Glen Yard, Port Glasgow in 1974. In groundbreaking fashion, each section was launched independently then fastened while afloat on the river under John's supervision.
He was born into a seafaring family and lived in Jura Street, Greenock. His father, Neil, was bosun on the King Edward Clyde steamer and his uncle was a captain on the Royal Scotsman and the Royal Ulsterman on the Glasgow Belfast run.
In 1939, along with his elder siblings and cousins, he was evacuated to his Aunt Jenny's home in Kames on the Kyles of Bute. There the children were entertained by Italian prisoners of war who put on regular concerts and shows and received sweets and treats from American GIs who, along with their British counterparts, were rehearsing D-Day landings on the concrete ramp at Blair's Ferry, just south of Tighnabruaich.
He missed the Kyles terribly when he had to return to school in Greenock, marking time until he could go to sea. Using his family contacts, he would sneak on to steamers that docked at Gourock, taking his 'place' on the bridge. At 16 he signed up with the Athel Line which was closely associated with the sugar company Tate & Lyle.
He first served on the Athel Regent (co-incidentally built at Glen Yard) and didn't return until 17 months later. On his second trip in 1952, while approaching Trinidad, the captain received a telegram informing him of the death of King George VI. As the youngest on board, John was instructed to lower the Ensign and muster the staff on the poop deck in tribute. He travelled extensively. A frequent run was Calcutta to the West Indies and on to Liverpool or Greenock with molasses. He achieved his master's ticket at the age of 26.
Unsurprisingly, at every opportunity he headed to Argyll where his brother Archie and sister Wren lived. Archie was the manager of the government-funded Hill Farming Research Organisation experimental farm and Wren was the local district nurse. Wren was dating (and subsequently married) Findlay Mills who also worked at the experimental farm. Findlay invited his sister Mary to visit from time to time. Mary and John clicked, and subsequently married in 1963.
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An opportunity to join the Clyde Pilotage at the age of 32 allowed him to combine his love of the sea with his love of family. For many years he climbed and descended rope ladders on the sides of vessels of all shapes and sizes and in all weathers.
In 1981, the Iolair, a unique oil platform maintenance and support vessel, was commissioned by BP for initial use in the Forties field. It was constructed by Scott Lithgow in Port Glasgow. The vessel resembled an oil rig with a low draft and large infrastructure.
Its launch, considered the most complex in the history of the Clyde, was John's responsibility. The launch had been simulated three times by engineers at Glasgow University and each time the model had tipped over. The day before the launch, Mary overheard a telephone conversation at home which ended 'well, if that happens, we'll swim for it…'
The next day, after completing her duties as a teacher at Ardgowan Primary School, Greenock, Mary drove quickly to the top of Lyle Hill to inspect progress. Noting that the structure was upright and apparently secure, dinner was prepared. In 1983 the Iolair was the subject of a commemorative stamp issued by the Post Office, one of three celebrating British engineering achievements. The Iolair is apparently still in service to this day off the Marshall Islands in the Pacific.
John MacLeod at sea (Image: Contributed)
In 1997, MT Soro, a 300 000-ton fully-loaded oil tanker was en route from Norway to Canada when it ran into trouble in storm conditions, rendering it rudderless. After a 90-minute flight in a Bristow's helicopter from Glasgow, Captain MacLeod, now aged 63, and his trainee pilot David Blair, were winched onto the rolling and pitching vessel. Twenty-six hours later, with the help of a number of tugboats, it was safely anchored south of the Cumbrae Gap in the Clyde, narrowly avoiding an environmental disaster.
As senior pilot, John was given the honour of piloting the Royal Yacht Brittania on its final tour of Britain. As she sailed past John Brown's shipyard, her birthplace, she gave a blast on her sirens as a fond farewell.
In common with many of the Gourock pilots he was an enthusiastic member of the Gourock Curling Club. In retirement he served as works convenor for the Greenock Medical Aid Society at Glenfield Home. When not travelling extensively around the globe or frequenting his second home in the Lake District, he would be found perfecting his garden 'no more than 20 minutes' walk from Gourock Harbour in case a boat comes round the corner unexpectedly'.
John MacLeod was predeceased by Mary, and a son Findlay Neil. He is survived by his daughters, Rhona and Kirsty.