FLAGS are flying at half-mast around the port in honour of former Falmouth pilot boat coxswain and deputy lifeboat coxswain, 86-year-old John Bobin who has quietly slipped his anchor and sailed on the tide.

John, who lived in Tregenver Road, moved to Falmouth in 1963 from the Isle of Wight where he was working as a marine turbine fitter with boat builders J Samuel White.

Joining Trinity House in the port as an engineer/coxswain John soon became a popular man on the waterfront serving on seven Falmouth pilot cutters – the AR Dawson, Harry Slater, Kernow, Landward, Link, LK Mitchell and Trelawney.

He spent 25 years working for Trinity House when they were the pilotage authority before transferring to the Pilotage Management Committee in 1988 when pilotage was placed in the hands of the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners.

Affectionately called Chief by pilots and coxswains alike, John was always happy in his work boarding and landing pilots. Pilot boat coxswains are renowned for their boat handling skills often carried out in adverse weather conditions. John was a consummate professional, a highly competent seaman and a pleasure to be on duty with whilst on watch.

Former pilot Captain Gordon Kent said: “John was the one who took me under his wing in the early 1970s when I started in pilotage. A first class coxswain and seaman, a person whom you could put one's total faith in when boarding and landing ships in inclement weather.

Captain Peter Langdon another retired pilot said: “John was a true stalwart, reliable and able in the most taxing conditions keeping his head and judgment throughout. He was a pleasure to work with.”

John was a man, who had dedicated a large part of his life to helping others through his long association with the RNLI and the St John Ambulance service.

He spent 16 years with the Falmouth lifeboat finishing up as deputy coxswain. During his time on the lifeboat 84 lives were saved. Many of the crew past and present have John to thank for the excellent first-aid training they received from him over the years.

Away from the sea he attained the rank of superintendent with the St John Ambulance Brigade which he joined in 1961.

In 1978 he was appointed a Serving Brother of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, one of the highest awards given by the St John Ambulance service. The order is an ancient Christian brotherhood devoted to works of charity and humanity.

A keen bowler, John was a member of Falmouth Bowling Club where he was club captain from 2000 to 2002. In later years he was honoured by being appointed a life member.

John came from a long line of seafarers originating from Poitou, France, and his family has a detailed family tree and extensive history dating back to 1660 to prove it.

He was a descendant of John Bobin, born in 1793, a ship’s carpenter, who died onboard the East Indiaman Skelton Castle which left Portsmouth in September 1806 for Bengal carrying a large number of passengers.

It was presumed that she foundered off the East African coast after parting company with a large fleet of ships in 1807.

John leaves a widow Judy and four children Paul, Gina, Jackie and Charlotte. His funeral will be held at Penmount Crematorium, Truro, on Tuesday, December 8, at 1200 hours. No black clothing to be worn at John’s request.