S.S. Orford, the ship that launched a thousand pocket squares

The liner 'S.S. Orford' (also referred to as 'R.M.S. Orford') was launched on 27th September, 1927 at Barrow-in-Furness by Lady Ryrie, wife of Sir Granville Ryrie, High Commissioner for Australia. Named after the town in Suffolk and in the long tradition of naming their ships with words starting with the letter 'O', the 'Orford' was especially designed for the Orient Line's mail and passenger service between England and Australia. It could be found however during some months of the year engaged in making pleasure cruises to the West Indies, the Baltic & fjords as well as to the Mediterranean.

The 'Orford' was commanded from its maiden voyage by Captain A.L. Owens, the grandfather of Otway & Orford's founder Mark Owens, until Captain Owens was put in charge of the Orient Line's first modernist liner launched in 1935, the 'Orion'. Captain Owens was an experienced Royal Navy and Merchant Navy commander who became one of the most celebrated liner captains of the inter war period known for his seamanship, his geniality with passengers and his sense of style, which always included a pocket square.

Under Captain Owens' stewardship, the 'Orford' witnessed some memorable moments in history. It was one of two official ships at Cowes for the 1929 Schneider Trophy seaplane races and was the flagship of the merchant vessels present at the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 (the 'Orford' is shown on the Australian stamps issued to commemorate the event). In 1934, Captain Owens and the 'Orford' brought to England the Australian Davis Cup team and the Ashes cricket squad ('The Invincibles') including Donald Bradman. Other famous people graced the 'Orford', notably the exiled Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Salassie, on his way to England in 1936 following the Italian invasion of his country. 

Taking inspiration from Captain Owens and his love of pocket squares for our brand, we wanted our brand name to acknowledge his part in our existence hence naming ourselves after two of Captain Owens' ships, the 'Otway' and of course the 'Orford'.

Stamp image by SteveStrummer - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11091061