Events

Steering Through History Lecture Series

George Estabrook, the SS Sicamous First Captain

Presented By: Robert Nield

Along with fellow members of the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society, Robert is a member of a team that, for the first time, conducted a genealogical study of the lives and experiences of the five men who, over the years, captained of the SS Sicamous. His talk will focus on the first of them – George Ludlow Estabrook. Although possessing tremendous experience and enjoying a position of great seniority within the Canadian Pacific organisation, Estabrook was only Captain for a very short time – as the talk will explain. Drawing on old photographs, census records, and many other sources, Robert will piece together the life of this pioneer mariner, both before he joined the CPR and after he retired from the service.

Robert Nield qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the UK and moved to Hong Kong in 1980. He spent most of his working life there as a partner in one of the world’s largest accountancy practices. Since retirement, Robert has been involved in many not-for-profit organizations. His interests include history (he gained an MPhil degree in 2018), sailing, writing songs, and playing the guitar. Robert came to Penticton with his wife in 2019 and is currently the treasurer for the S.S. Sicamous Marine Heritage Society.