He spent a year in that role before realising it was not for him. Instead, aged 17, he got a job working on the trawlers off Lowestoft. Eventually he moved to work on the coasters, which sailed out of Wells on the north Norfolk coast, as well as in the Norfolk Broads, Great Yarmouth, and even Holland. He spent three years in those roles before embarking on another apprenticeship as a deck officer with Shell. Here he enjoyed a successful career and went on to study at college in Cornwall, before obtaining a degree and masters. He became one of the world’s highest qualified merchant seamen and was qualified for more than 25 years. At the time of his death, he was able to captain every merchant ship in the world.