Burnham-On-Sea’s Harbour Officer has retired from the role this week.
As part of a planned retirement move to Devon, Ricky Holmes has relinquished his post as Harbour Officer for the port of Bridgwater.
His departure was marked by a retirement party at Burnham-On-Sea’s La Vela restaurant with friends and colleagues, where he was presented with leaving gifts, and thanked for his dedicated service. His post has been filled by Lyndon Baker, who is a lifeboat crewman.
Employed by CS Spencer and Co, Ricky has operated the pilot boat since 2002, serving as Harbour Officer for approximately five years. During his time with the authority, he served under three harbour masters – Peter Lee, Chris Spencer and Keith Badsey.
Ricky was a founder member of BARB Search & Rescue and joined the RNLI in 2003 as a tractor driver, and progressing to the role of Deputy Launch Authority. Finally, he became Burnham-On-Sea RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, serving for five years, before handing over to present LOM Matt Davies last December.
Born and bred in Burnham-On-Sea, a grandson of the Late Doctor Holmes and son of the late Peter Holmes who founded the League of Friends of Burnham Hospital, he was taught locally at St Dunstans school, before attending HMS Conway Naval college and joining the merchant Navy. He worked at DB marine in Taunton for twenty years, leaving them in 1999. He began working in marine pilotage in 2002.
