Robbie Middleton Remembered

We remember fondly our SeaShed member, Captain Robbie Middleton

It was with a sense of sadness, coupled with thankfulness for the life of our fellow SeaShed crew member, Robbie. Despite battling with illness over the past 5 years he was a regular (when not in hospital or confined to home!) attendee of our group of retired seafarers.

His input to my life was significant - typical of Robbie who would go out of his way to help others. He was such a great supporter of my ministry as Port Chaplain over 20 plus years... and without his wise input, Aberdeen Seafarers Centre would not have come to fruition and many seafarers would have be denied the support they deserve.

The SeaShed provided him with an iPad whilst he was in hospital during covid so that he could communicate with his family... remember those dark days? I was also able to connect him with the hospital Chaplain Jarod - they became firm friends and he helped me conduct the private family service at Baldarroch crematorium.

The Celebration of life service was a fine tribute to Robbie with a packed Church. Several SeaShed members attended and Robbie asked me to read 'his story' which he wrote.

I will not go on, but I will attach a picture of the obituary that appeared in the latest Nautical Institutes' magazine, Seaways.

So much more could be written, but I want to close on a note of hope by sharing a story that Robbie wanted read at his Celebration of Life service - especially for his granddaughters, Hannah and Eliza:

Story - The Dragonfly

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles.

They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew that when this happened their friend was dead, gone for ever.

Then. One day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever.

He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water on to the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap.

As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying. So, fly he did! And as he soared, he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had ever known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking that he was now dead. He wanted to go back and tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended. But his new body would not go down into the water.

He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, and they too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life.

Robbie is with his Lord and enjoying a new life... awaiting the arrival of his family and friends, but hopefully, not anytime soon!