They often joined him at sea, where Lucy taught passengers to hold on to their champagne during heavy seas and Perkins, who kept his faith, led interdenominational Sunday services for passengers and crew.
Times obit writers can be very good indeed but apparently claiming his favourite hymn was “For those in peril on the sea” was a step too far.
Well, OK, that’s the joke I would have tried to smuggle in there which is probably why I don’t get to write Times obits…..
“Perkins, a generously built man…He died of a pulmonary embolism on January 14, 2021, aged 64.”
“He met Louise Beaty (known as Lucy) …”
Is there any known case of a Briton being called by his or her actual forename throughout life?
@dearieme: At every address? I doubt it. Leaving aside occasions when people are referred to by surname (with or without an honorific) and diminutives (I am rarely addressed as Thomas), the nicknaming urge is too strong. I was once met an airman under my command who was introduced as Spanky; even as the word “Why?” started to from on my lips the wobbly said, “You don’t want to know sir.” I didn’t even start to ask when the next chap was introduced as Wiz. At least I could understand why Cpl Warren was known as Bunny…
“Eternal Father” (sung to the tune Melita, of course) is the naval hymn of most English-speaking mariners (whether merchant or armed), though I can see why you might not wish to use it during a service on a cruise liner.
For Brits I’d say it’s quite possible to know people long enough to forget what their actual name is or not even know it in the first place
BniC, true. I have a mate I’ve known since 1996 who goes by the name Aimo (surname is Aimson). I had no idea until a couple of years ago that his first name is Mark.