Robert's book setting sail!

‘Causeway Coast Maritime Memories’ will be launched before an audience of invited guests on Tuesday, June 21 from 7.30pm.

The launch is courtesy of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Museum Service and Robert will be signing copies of his book at the special launch price of £7.50.

Taken mostly from his own huge collection and with the addition of significant input from several generous contributors, the photos, from Victorian glass plate negatives through to modern digital images, record many aspects of our local maritime heritage over a period of about 160 years.

Over 80 high-quality pages with images of sailing ships, steamships, motor ships, dockers, shipwrecks, port and harbour scenes, visiting warships, lifeboats and seamen all illustrate a bygone age that still fascinates many younger readers as well as kindling the reminiscences of older generations.

Each photograph is accompanied by a well-researched and detailed caption giving the reader an insight into aspects of the maritime world sometimes not generally seen or understood by the general public.

A son of a seafarer and an active shipmaster for over 40 years, Robert spent 25 years as the Dredging Master and a River Bann Pilot with Coleraine Harbour Commissioners before extending his career further afield and serving as Master on a variety of dredgers and small passenger vessels within the UK.

He has also served as Harbour Master at the ports of Portavogie and Portrush and was a member of Coleraine Harbour Commissioners, becoming Chairman for a number of years.

With his keen interest in local and maritime history Robert is a published author of several books and is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable maritime historians in the Province.

Printed by Ballycastle based Impact Printing to their usual very high production standards, the volume will be available at good bookshops and other outlets throughout the Causeway Coast area priced at £8.50.

Tea and coffee will be available at the launch.