Tributes paid as Royal Navy mourns loss of 'very fine and dutiful naval officer'

Tributes have been paid to Commander Bob Hawkins, HMS Caledonia Commanding Officer and Chief of Staff for the Naval Regional HQ, Scotland and Northern Ireland, after his death was announced.

Cdr Hawkins served more than 45 years in the Royal Navy.

In 2018, he was featured in the BBC documentary Britain's Biggest Warship while First Lieutenant of HMS Queen Elizabeth, and, in 1995, appeared in the documentary HMS Brilliant. 

The Royal Navy in Scotland posted on X that he had died over the weekend, with many paying tribute to him.

Among the tributes was one from HMS Blazer, the P2000 Patrol Vessel, which said on X, formerly Twitter: "A supportive mentor and a kind naval officer, Cdr Bob thank you for all you've done: you will be missed. Our sincere condolences to friends and family."

Meanwhile, HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Reserve Centre in Devonport, Plymouth, posted: A very fine and dutiful naval officer. @RoyalNavy have been lucky to have him for so long!  RIP Cdr Bob, fair winds and following seas."

A tribute from HMS Pursuer, a P2000 Fast Patrol Boat and the training vessel for Glasgow and Strathclyde University Royal Naval Unit, said: "HMS Pursuer is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Commanding Officer, Cdr Robert Hawkins MBE.

"Cdr Bob, was CO in 2011/12 & had always been an excellent mentor to all P2000 COs who followed on from him. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."

Archer class HMS Puncher said: "Puncher's Crew join the wider naval community in expressing our sadness to learn of Commander Hawkins's passing.

"A stalwart of his branch and true gent. Five Bells Bob."

In a career that spanned 60 years, Cdr Hawkins held posts around the world and served on ships small and large – from P2000s and Hunt-class minehunters to aircraft carriers, including helping bring HMS Queen Elizabeth into service as her First Lieutenant.

The majority of his career was spent in mine warfare, qualifying as a mine warfare/clearance diving officer in 1982.

He then spent much of the next 25 years serving in, directing or training minehunters before he moved to the then Flag Officer Sea Training organisation which helped prepare small ships, including minehunters, for frontline duties.

His commitment to mine hunting earned him an MBE from the late Queen Elizabeth in 2007.

After qualifying as a principal warfare officer, Cdr Hawkins served during the Balkan crisis on board HMS Brilliant, which was featured in a documentary TV series.

A generation later, he featured once again in a series on bringing HMS Queen Elizabeth into service.

In between the two, Cdr Hawkins served as HMS Iron Duke's Executive Officer, sharing his mine warfare expertise with Nato staff in Brussels and with the US Navy.

He also served on the staff of UKMCC, helping the Royal Navy oversee one of the most important minehunting mission beyond home waters, joining Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK (Five Power Defence Arrangement), for exercises.

Cdr Hawkins also commanded the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron, responsible for protecting Vanguard-class nuclear submarines, as well as other Royal Navy ships operating around the base.

Finally, his most recent posting was as Commanding Officer of HMS Caledonia in Rosyth and chief-of-staff to the Royal Navy Regional Commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Brigadier Andy Muddiman, Naval Regional Commander Scotland and Northern Ireland, said Cdr Hawkins "made an immediate impact upon his arrival in HMS Caledonia", as he had done throughout his career.

"He will be sorely missed by the many whose lives he touched inside the Royal Navy and beyond and not least as a true gentleman and a leader."

Rob Hoole, a friend of Cdr Hawkins for more than 40 years and a fellow former mine warfare officer, said he "was the personification of a naval officer; an inspiring leader and a true gentleman".

"His integrity was matchless and he could connect with anyone from admirals to the most junior sailor. He also had an innate sense of fun combined with a mischievous sense of humour.

"He seemed omnipresent too; wherever you went, there was Bob."

He leaves behind his wife Trudy and four grown-up children, two daughters and two sons.