SHOOTIN’ THE BREEZE

We catch up with David Barrett, or ‘Davey’ as many know him by. Davey has been working at Milford Marina since 2002 and is widely known not just to berth holders but the locals of Milford Haven too.

QGrowing up in Milford Haven, what ties do you have to Milford Fish Docks? DB After leaving school my father was employed down here to help maintain trawlers and ships and he carried on working for 40 years around the docks. With my father often working and visiting the site, as a child we would always come down on the weekends and help him out with bits and pieces and if we were lucky, we were able to get on the trawler in the lock and have a trip from the lock gates over to the docks. Other members of my family were past trawler skippers and my great-great grandfather was actually one of the pioneer fishermen for the port. Q With your fascinating heritage, how does it feel to be the sixth generation Barrett to work in a maritime career? DB I think it is nice to keep the ties with the docks going, having worked between both the Dry Dock and the marina for 25 years. Although the Barrett name carries a lot of history it is not just my father’s side that has a nautical past. My grandad on my mother’s side arrived in Milford as a fisherman from the west coast of Ireland in Castletownbere, and he ended up meeting my nan who was working in the braiding room making the fishing nets!

Qilford arina has de nitely gone from strength to strength over the past 30 years; what was it like to watch the marina evolve over the time you have worked there? DB The best part is seeing how the marina has expanded and how busy we have become. From seeing the exciting installations of additional pontoons and new lock gates, to how Milford Waterfront has developed into a bustling destination, in all the years of working here it is the first time we have seen our waiting list this long.

QAs a berth holder at Milford Marina, where is your favourite place to visit on the boat? DB I enjoy a trip down to Dale, where I can tie up on the pontoon and have a beverage at Coco’s Brasserie at Dale Yacht Club. Having a motorboat, it is great to take a trip up the river to Haverfordwest and pop into The Bristol Trader when the tides are suitable.

BELOW: Davey Barrett is continuing his family’s long association with the waterfront at Milford Haven Q Having worked at Milford Marina so long you are no stranger to the boating community, but tell us something that people may not know about you? DB I have been a member of Angle Lifeboat for eight years and I am currently a deputy launching authority. I am also a member of the Milford Haven Round Table and help with the organising and running of their popular events such as Milford Carnival, the Fireworks Display and Milford Haven Beer Festival. www.milfordmarina.com

“If we were lucky, we were able to get on the trawler in the lock and have a trip from the lock gates over to the docks.”