Owen David (Dai) Somerville-Jones (50-55), a retired Commander RN, died peacefully on 13th January 2025 aged 87. He left a wife Ann, four children and four grandchildren. His funeral will take place on Wednesday 19th February at 1:00pm at St. Peter & St. Paul’s Church, West Mersea CO5 8QD followed by a wake at The Peldon Rose inn, Colchester Road, Peldon CO5 7QJ.

At the Nautical College which he attended with his brother E.K. Somerville-Jones (53-58), Dai, as he was universally known, became a Cadet Captain in Macquarie Division, a member of Form VI Science and part of the 1953-55 swimming teams. Most of his interests outside the classroom centred on school societies – dancing, printing, music, drama and geography.

Passing into the Royal Navy via the Civil Service Special Entry scheme in early 1956, he began a 33-year career in the Royal Navy first as a Seaman Officer flying as an Observer in the Fleet Air Arm and later specializing in Communications and Electronic Warfare.

Permanently seasick from his first trip in a training ship until leaving the RN, he (in his own words) “miraculously” gained his watchkeeping and ocean navigation tickets whilst regularly losing his way in coastal minesweepers in the Mediterranean. Switching to the FAA, he was in 892 Squadron in HMS Victorious in the Gulf and Far East in the early 1960s. Subsequently in the FAA he served in 899 Squadron doing air-to-air refuelling trials, on the staff of 766 Squadron and in the RN Aerobatic Team ‘Freds Five’ before joining HMS Ark Royal in 1965.

After three years in Ark Royal, Dai re-trained and then joined HMS Mercury as a Signals Officer before serving in HMS Ajax in the Far East and doing a second stint in Mercury. Other appointments were in HMS London and HMS Amazon. Memorable RN exploits he recalled in later life included borrowing 13 elephants from Billy Smart’s circus for a ship’s farewell to the captain on the jetty in Portsmouth; and flying ‘Pans People’ dancers from BBCTV ‘Top of the Pops’ to Malta for a show on board. Promoted in 1967, he helped to plan HM The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Fleet Review.  Service in the Ministry of Defence in the Directorate of Naval Warfare followed. His last job in the Navy was in Brussels as a NATO project Director. He retired from the RN in 1988. 

Dai’s next 16 years were spent with the Energy Industries Council where he was Chief Executive 1990-2004. The role entailed forming and being chairman of subsidiary companies in Texas, Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Dubai as well as opening an office in Aberdeen.  He was also a founder member of an oil industry body called First Point Assessment which reduced bidding costs by some 30% in the offshore business. Travelling widely, he gave presentations and chaired seminars and workshops in 33 countries.

Throughout his working life and in retirement he relaxed with choral singing. For 12 years he was involved with the Radlett Players Old Time Music Hall. Other activities included being President of The Anchorites dining club, President of the Bromley Sea Cadet Unit and fund-raising for the Mission to Seafarers. He also became a Freeman of the City of London and of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners. To all his endeavours Dai brought unfailing cheerfulness and an irrepressible sense of humour, underpinned by a strong Christian faith

You are invited to attend the Live Stream Funeral Service for Owen David (Dai) Somerville-Jones

Wednesday 19th February 2025, 13:00 PM GMT – St Peter & St Paul's Church, West Mersea

Please click the link below to join the Live Service:

Zoom Link

The live stream will start at 12:45pm