R.A.F. Stow (54-58) died suddenly but peacefully on January 13th 2026, aged 85. He left a wife Charmian, three children and grandchildren. A Service of Thanksgiving will take place at St Michael’s Church, in Betchworth, Surrey RH3 7DN on 2nd March at 11:00am.

Adrian joined The Nautical College in Summer term 1954 from Brambletye prep school in East Grinstead. After a year in the junior division, he became a member of Macquarie Division and was in Form MN. On the river he was as a Sailing Colour and winner of the McGeoch Cup in 1957.

Joining Port Line with a view to a career in the Merchant Navy, he gained his 2nd Mate’s certificate in 1961 but then decided to come ashore. Joining James Burness as a ship broker in late 1961, he moved to the ship chartering business of Mathews Wrightson in 1966 two years before the firm became Galbraith Wrightson.

Through Mathews Wrightson Adrian became a member of the Baltic Exchange; he was to remain a member until 2004 and his retirement, serving as a Director of the Exchange 1989-94. In the mid-1990s he left Galbraith’s and branched out on his own by setting up Stow Chartering.

Outside work, Adrian was a reliable mid-teens handicap golfer and a longtime member of Walton GC. Captain of the Baltic Exchange Golfing Society in 1983, he also played rugby for Dorking RFC and remained a keen supporter of the club into old age. Post NCP, he developed his accomplished sailing skills by owning and helming a classic 35-foot Camper Nicholson cruising boat based in the Beaulieu River estuary.

A longtime supporter of the OP Society in various capacities, Adrian was coordinator of the 1950s group of OPs, arranging numerous pub lunch get-togethers, and taking part in many OP Golf Society events.

Mark Dumas (L), Adrian Stow (C) & Pip Smitham (R)