Fond farewell for Master Mariner, Gordon Oxley
Shipping fraternity mourns Master Mariner.
TRIBUTES poured in from all quarters at the memorial service held last Tuesday at the Richards Bay Seafarers Mission for local shipping legend, Gordon Oxley.
Born in England in 1932, Oxley enjoyed great success after becoming a maritime apprentice at the prestigious HMS Conway institution, where he rose to the rank of Commander and later, despite being a ‘part-time’ serviceman, took command of a submarine.
But it was at Richards Bay where he and his family made the biggest impact. Eulogies and testimonies to his legacy were shared by Seafarers Chaplain Jaco Dreyer, Pastor Ron Kusel and shipping colleagues Rob Farren-Handford and Tim Stanley.
Beside his imprint through his profession, Gordon was a Seafarers Mission stalwart, former SPCA Chairman, Richards Bay Rotary Club member, maritime lecturer at Tisand Tech, active member of the Master Mariners Association and a sports lover who completed both the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons.
‘He left his country of birth to become a better South African than many of us who were born here.
‘He was a humanitarian of note, a literal ‘man on a mission’, and my mentor,’ said Chaplain Dreyer.
Gordon’s contribution to the community at large was also praised by Zululand Observer Editor Dave Savides, while Gordon’s son Michael, now living in New Zealand, spoke glowingly on his dad’s family commitment and the special bond they shared while pounding the tarmac in their running shoes.
