Robert Enys Hichens (‘Bob’) RIP. 1932-2020

There were about 200 of us at the funeral in Flushing, Cornwall of Bob Hichens on 24 January 2020

and afterwards at Enys House.

Bob was the elder son of Lieutenant Commander Robert Peverell Hichens RNVR, DSO and bar, DSC and two bars, the famous motor gunboat ace who was killed in action in 1943 and Catherine Enys, and grandson of Constance (‘Connie’) Downes.

After obtaining a first in chemistry at Oxford, Bob joined Shell where he had an illustrious career, remaining with the company until he retired in about 1990 and he and his wife Mariquita soon went to live at his father’s house Bodrennick at Flushing.  He was well known locally, and became a cabinet member of Cornwall County Council.

He and I became very good sailing friends, cruising almost every year from 1992 until 2011 in his 35ft yacht Panacea, visiting Brittany many times and also Ireland and Spain.  These were wonderful trips, all including hilarious and sometimes challenging incidents. He always displayed remarkable self-confidence, courage, tolerance, ingenuity and mechanical ability.