Tributes paid to Felixstowe port legend Bryan Boreham

Bryan David Boreham from Felixstowe, has been remembered as a larger-than-life character and the life and soul of every party.

To his family, he will be remembered as a kind, energetic man who loved life – and could rustle up a story about any topic.  

“He changed my life,” said Bryan’s fiancée, Celia Page. The pair had been together since they were set up by a friend eight years ago.  

“He was an amazing person. He gave me the courage and the confidence to do things.” 

Bryan made friends wherever he went. People of all ages were drawn to him through his warm, gregarious personality, many of whom he met in his favourite pub, The Half Moon in Walton.

Bryan Boreham was a warm and friendly person, and people of all ages were drawn to him. Credit: Family of Bryan Boreham (Image: Family of Bryan Boreham)

Originally an Essex boy, Bryan was born in Romford on April 15, 1945, making him a ‘war baby’. He was the second son of Ernie and Lilly Boreham, with an older brother, Ted, who was 12 years his senior. 

After leaving school, Bryan got his first job in the City of London in the shipping industry. He remained in London for the next 10 years, becoming highly respected in his field. 

By 1966, work had begun on an ambitious new container port in Felixstowe. The Landguard Container Terminal, as it became known, opened in 1967. 

Bryan made the move to Braintree in Essex, commuting to the port each day, before accepting a job as a shipping manager and moving to Felixstowe in the summer of 1970. 

He would remain here for the next 50 years. 

“Bryan saw the development of the port right from its inception,” said Celia. 

Bryan Boreham was originally an Essex boy, but had lived in Felixstowe for more than 50 years. Credit: Family of Bryan Boreham (Image: Family of Bryan Boreham)

Bryan threw himself into his role with great passion, and his job took him all over the world. During his life, Bryan visited most countries in Europe, east and west Africa, the Middle East and the Baltic States. Towards the end of his career, Bryan accepted a role with China Shipping, becoming the company’s UK operations manager.

By this time, Bryan was a father to four children: Jane Wilson, Michael Boreham, Ian Boreham and Francesca Roberts. Bryan was enormously proud of his children, and was popular, too, with their friends for his ‘larger than life’ persona.

When he became engaged to Celia, Bryan became close with her children and grandchildren, too.

After his death, Celia received a letter from a friend of her son’s, who had only met Bryan on a handful of occasions.

“If you think of someone who was always able to rustle up a story about whatever topic was being discussed, Bryan was the man for the job,” the friend wrote.

Bryan was knowledgeable on a whole host of subjects – geography, from his extensive travels abroad, history, and sports.

Bryan finally retired from shipping in 2012, but he was soon itching to get back to work.

He therefore embarked on a second career, becoming the operations manager for the Felixstowe Area Community Transport Scheme.

Bryan remained working well into his 70s, finally retiring in 2018.

Bryan Boreham devoted much of his time and energy to charity work after he retired in 2018. Credit: Family of Bryan Boreham (Image: Family of Bryan Boreham)

He was also heavily involved in charity projects in the area, including the Felixstowe Round Table, the Felixstowe 41 club, and the Rotary Landguard Club, which Bryan founded himself.

Up until his death, Bryan was a member of the Rotary Club of Felixstowe, and was the club’s president two years ago.

Bryan loved the outdoors, and particularly climbing, sailing, and hiking in places such as the Peak District and the Lake District, which he visited with Celia and his friends

“Bryan loved the camaraderie of his friends,” said Celia. “He was such a people person – he’d do anything for his friends.”

Bryan David Boreham died on February 5, aged 77. He will be sorely missed by Celia, his four children, eleven grandchildren, all the family and his countless friends.

In February, tributes were also paid to Beryl Merrett, who was a stalwart in the world of girl guiding and church life in Trimley St Martin.

To read more tributes to those from Suffolk who we have loved and lost, www.eadt.co.uk/news/obituaries