Coastguard stepping down after 30 years

A MUMBLES watch manager will be dropping the anchor on his 30-year career with the Coastguard.

Eric Birkett, aged 63, of Overland Road, will complete his final night watch at Swansea Coastguard tomorrow morning.

The grandfather-of-two joined HM Coastguard as a watch officer in Clyde, Scotland, in October, 1979, after leaving the Royal Navy and moved to Swansea in 1983.

He has worked in the Coastguard operations room and in management team roles and has been involved in numerous search and rescue incidents.

Colleague Julie Wood said Mr Birkett would be missed by everybody in Swansea.

She said: "Eric is highly regarded among his colleagues at Swansea Coastguard, many of whom he has guided through various courses and examinations through their own careers.

"His depth of knowledge and professionalism will be sorely missed."

A surprise party was thrown by his colleagues at the Mumbles Yacht Club last week where Mr Birkett met up with some old friends and colleagues.

The father-of-three said he was deeply moved by the party.

He said: "It was very touching and I met up with some people I have not seen for a while, such as friends from Illfracombe and Porthcawl.

"My team is close-knit and we have had some good laughs and fun along the way."

Mr Birkett was involved in the Sea Empress disaster in the late 1990s and the Piper Alpha disaster in the North Sea in the 1980s.

He said: "There is great variety in this job. No day or incident is ever the same. It is exciting and you do get a high adrenalin rush.

"Rescuing somebody gives you such a really good feeling and gives a boost to the day. Thankfully deaths are few and far between compared to the number of lives rescued.

"You have to remain calm and collected in difficult circumstances, but whatever the outcome the team always talk the incident over and look at any ways we could have improved."

Beverley Haigh will take over the role on December 5 and she said Mr Birkett had left a legacy that would be difficult to follow.

She said: "Following somebody who is so respected will be hard, but I am looking forward to the new role. If I could do just half of what Eric did, I will be happy."

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk