Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre’s ‘resident Sunderlander’, Ron Boreham, was given an emotional send off before heading to a new home in Norfolk.

A stalwart in the Sunderland Trust volunteer team which runs the Heritage Centre, Ron has been involved in town heritage projects for many years - at the Gun Tower Museum, Flying Boat Centre and latterly at the centre in the Dockyard Chapel. He was also a trustee of the Sunderland Trust.

Ron lived in Pembroke Dock since 1979 and spent 34 years in the RAF. His first operational station was RAF Pembroke Dock where he joined No 230 Squadron as an aircrew signaller in the early 1950s. He did a tour of 800 hours on Sunderlands before moving on to fly in Shackletons and then various jet aircraft before becoming an air traffic controller. He last posting before retirement was at RAF Brawdy.

Originally from London, Ron met his late wife Nan (nee Heslop) when stationed at ‘PD’ and they were married for 53 years. Ron has three sons and a daughter and will be living with daughter Gill and family in Norwich. He also has nine grandchildren.

The Sunderland flying boat will always be special for Ron and it was appropriate that his leaving gift was a print of this famous flying boat. The print, donated by Welsh artist John Wynne Hopkins of the Guild of Aviation Artists, depicts Sunderland T9044 over a convoy in 1940. This aircraft sank off PD and its story and artefacts have become a centrepiece of displays at the Heritage Centre.

During a surprise farewell party at the centre, the print was presented to Ron on behalf of volunteers, staff and friends by Graham and Sue Clarkson and a magnificent Sunderland Trust cake, made by Caroline and Mike Jones, was enjoyed. Among many tributes paid to Ron were those by Graham Clarkson, Trust Chairman Gareth Mills and Trust Patron John Evans.

Joining Ron and many of his friends in the Volunteer Team were members of his family from Carmarthen and Norfolk.