A BOURNEMOUTH coastguard was laid to rest on Tuesday surrounded by his friends and former colleagues.

Robin ‘Tommy’ Tucker, 73, passed away on April 30, following a long and successful career, including 14 years in the Royal Navy, before joining the Coastguard service in 1972.

He was honoured with a flypast by his former colleagues at the Coastguard after his coffin was carried into Bournemouth Crematorium.

He leaves behind wife, Sheila, and their four children: Sharon, Glen, Samuel and Donna.

Tommy worked in Aberdeen, before being stationed on the Isle of Wight, and then moving from there to work as Section Officer at Poole and Southbourne Coastguard. Back in 1981 when he joined Southbourne Coastguard Station, Tommy told the Daily Echo: “I want to carry on the good relationship built up over the years between the coastguards at Southbourne and the public.

“The people at Southbourne have been very friendly towards me and my family since we arrived and I want the public to be aware of what we do.”

Gary Elson, managing director of Bournemouth Helicopters, formerly worked with the Coastguard Service for 14 years.

He paid tribute to Tommy by saying ‘he was like a father to me’.

Gary added: “I knew him very well. Tommy was a real genuine, incredible guy. So many people learnt so much from him and he was the one who put me in charge of the unit at Southbourne.”