Death of Cdr Michael Francis Goodenough Emary RN

13 Apr 2023 - MCDOA member Bob White MBE has passed me the sad news that fellow member Mike Emary crossed the bar last Sunday (9 Apr 2023) in his home town of Eastbourne. He had been experiencing heart problems for some time and it finally gave up. He was 83.

Mike joined the Royal Navy in 1957 at the age of 17. He served in the Ton class minesweeper HMS LANTON and the diving trials vessel HMS RECLAIM before qualifying as an MCDO, together with Bob White, at HMS VERNON in early 1969. Their Course Officer was MCDOA member Peter Waddington.

This photo was taken when the course visited EGUERMIN (Ecole de Guerre des Mines), the BE-NL Minewarfare School in Ostend.

Mike went on to command the Ton class minesweepers REPTON and BRNC Dartmouth’s navigational training ship WALKERTON (I remember him in 1971 when I was a cadet) and serve at AUWE Portland and HMS VERNON before being appointed as the 1st Lt of the Tribal class frigate HMS NUBIAN. He then served in a variety of appointments including HMS COCHRANE, the Directorate of Operational Requirements (Sea) where he was responsible for procuring new mine warfare & diving kit, NATO’s AFSOUTH (Allied Forces Southern Europe) in Naples, CINCFLEET at Northwood, MOD Bath and NATO’s SACLANT (Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic) in Norfolk, Virginia before leaving the Royal Navy in 1999.

Mike pursued a second career for many years as a volunteer with the Royal British Legion and the Officers’ Association, catering for the welfare needs of veterans as described in this article from the Brighton Argus. In November 2019, he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his LMCDO course with his course officer Peter Waddington and fellow students Bob White MBE and the late Dave Forsey MBE at the MCDOA’s Annual Dinner in HMS EXCELLENT. He had intended celebrating the 55th anniversary of his LMCDO course at our annual dinner this year.

I am sure all members of our community will join me in extending our sincere condolences to Mike’s family, especially his wife Judy, son Simon and daughter Sally-Ann. His funeral will take place in Eastbourne on Tuesday 9 May.

Postscript: Mike’s funeral will be held in the main chapel of Eastbourne Crematorium at 1200 on Tuesday 9 May 2023. Donations, if desired, to the Royal British Legion.