Rip George Collins, Ramsholt, Suffolk

[MY littleboat]

We were incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend George Collins, who, until recently, was the oldest known official Harbour Master, and had helped me, on numerous occasions over more than 40 years, to find a safe mooring buoy at Ramsholt in the River Deben in Suffolk.

George was quite a remarkable man, being born in Ramsholt in 1930, he shared a somewhat 'local life' declaring in 2022 that he had never been on an aeroplane - except the the B17 that had sadly crash landed in the River when he was a child, clambering over it after it had been recovered on to the beach.

2019 saw George defiant, after a fire destroyed his office-boat at Ramsholt Quay, but the community rallied around and replaced the boat - with a caravan - it was never the same, and so it wasn't long before George found a new, more suitable boat!

'Young George' as he was known, following taking over the roll of Harbour Master from his own father, was still actively working until he suffered a stroke in 2023 and was most certainly Britain's oldest official Harbour Master.

George was re-introduced to the water just recently, when he undertook a boat trip on the River Orwell with his twin brother Billy, and was also reintroduced to his favourite meal - fish and chips at the Ramsholt Arms.

Much loved and very missed, every member of the River Deben community will be saddened by this news.

A life well lived, RIP Dear George
1930 - 2023
 

 

[Smoggy]

RIP Young George, a true gent indeed but only met him the once and very glad I did, ramsholt arms closes too early for me and a run back up to waldringfield yealds a pub brekkie as long as there's a mooring free.