IAN CLARKE A Norfolk captain has been given the top maritime honour awarded by one of the world's best known cruise line companies.Stephen Burgoine, 58, of Thursford, near Fakenham, has an exemplary service record and in his role as commodore with P&O Cruises, he will be senior master of the fleet.

IAN CLARKE

A Norfolk captain has been given the top maritime honour awarded by one of the world's best known cruise line companies.

Stephen Burgoine, 58, of Thursford, near Fakenham, has an exemplary service record and in his role as commodore with P&O Cruises, he will be senior master of the fleet.

Mr Burgoine, 58, who has a wife Kathryn, undertook merchant navy academic studies at HMS Worcester at the Thames Nautical Training College and joined P&O Cruises in 1966 as a deck cadet sailing on Soudan, Ballarat and also on Chusan.

He has progressed steadily through the ranks and after taking time out from sea travel to do a degree course in maritime studies, he became second officer on board the original Oriana and Canberra and was then promoted to first officer on board both ships.

From 1977, Mr Burgoine served in positions ranking from first officer up to chief officer on various vessels, including Island Princess, the original Sun Princess, Pacific Princess, Royal Princess and Sky Princess.

In 1991 he was promoted to deputy captain was later promoted to the position of captain, and to his first command on board Pacific Princess in 1996.

In April 2005 he took the helm of Arcadia, the newest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet, where he currently serves.

P&O Cruises managing director David Dingle said: "I am delighted to appoint Steve Burgoine to the position of commodore of the fleet. His appointment is in recognition of a long and successful career with P&O Cruises and reflects his outstanding dedication and commitment over the past 40 years."