Robert Chatterton
Mr Charles Robert (Bob) Chatterton who was chairman of the Reardon Smith Group from 1070 until the company went into liquidation in 1985 crossed the bar on 3rd March 2004 aged 90. His funeral was held at St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan on the 15th March. He was born and bred in Cardiff and Penarth and after studying accountancy joined RSL in December 1929 as a junior accountant. He became Assistant Company Secretary in 1961, Financial Director and Company Secretary in 1963, and Chairman in 1970. Bob served in the company for 55 years.
Bob joined the Territorial Army in 1937 and on the outbreak of war briefly served in the Welsh Regiment. He obtained his commission and rose to the rank of Major. He was transferred to the 34th Regiment R.A.T.A as a Battery Captain, serving with them in Belgium and Holland being twice mentioned in Dispatches.
During his lifetime Bob was also Chairman of the Horton and Port Eynon Lifeboat Committee, Chairman of the Cardiff Station of the Missions to Seaman, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, London. He joined the board of the Commercial Bank of Wales in 1970 also served as the Chairman of the local British Transport Dock Board also governor of the South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education where this institute had a Marine Studies Department.
Following the demise of RSL in 1985Bob became the part time chairman of Cardiff Ship Management before retiring in 1988.
This was printed in Shipmates No. 31 September 2004.