Morpeth Herald
20 May 1938 page 6 col 6
Harbourmaster To Retire
AWARDED O.B.E. FOR WAR SERVICES
Captain R.T. Wilkinson, Blyth harbour master for 25 years, is to retire at the end of this month.
Apprenticed in the old sailing brigs Captain Wilkinson has had an adventurous career, and he was awarded the O.B.E. for his services as chief examination officer and King’s harbour master at Blyth during the war.
Captain Wilkinson’s first shore appointment was as deputy dock master for the L.N.E.R. at West Hartlepool, a position he held for a period of eleven years. During 1911 he became head dock master at Tyne Dock and in two years he was appointed harbour master at Blyth.
During the war, as chief examination officer and King’s harbour master, many of his experiences were in connection with secret service. He also did much salvage work off the northumberland Coast.
Captain Wilkinson has been an official of the Missions of Seamen and also of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. He is also keenly interested in sport.
During his retirement he will reside in Pipsham, Lancashire.
On Friday night Captain Wilkinson was the recipient of a cut glass decanter and cut glass jug, the gifts of the Blyth pilots.
The presentation was made by Captain H. Dunn, senior pilot.
(article is likely to have been in a few North East newspaper, including the Shields one that William posted about)
Boo
