Ron Marshall, a manager of Abingdon Marina who had twice retired before going back to work, has collapsed and died in his office at the age of 67.

Ron Marshall

Former seaman Mr Marshall, 67, of East Street, Didcot, was responsible for security and the general running of the Thames marina where he was appointed to the job only a year ago.

Eric Rumsey, of Builders Ede Ltd, which completed the marina development including more than 100 riverside homes, said: "Ron was and looked every inch a mariner.

"He was wonderful at his job and popular with staff and with the people who brought their boats to the marina.

"We were all upset after hearing he had collapsed."

Mr Marshall's attachment to boats began at the age of 14 when he left school and began work as a shipwright on the Thames at Isleworth.

He joined the Royal Navy as a boy-seaman, and served on two battleships, three aircraft carriers and two destroyers.

He volunteered for submarine service and was drafted to HMS Dolphin for submarine training.

In 1973, he became a boatman at the Hydraulics Research Station, near Wallingford, where his job was to maintain and operate a small fleet of inshore survey vessels.

Following retirement at the age of 60, Mr Marshall became a temporary district lock and weir keeper and worked at every Thames lock and weir between Goring and Lechlade.

He retired again at the age of 65, but was to return to Abingdon Marina, saying: "I just love boats and the water and hate being retired."

Mr Marshall, a widower, leaves a son and two daughters. He was a member of the Didcot branch of the Royal Naval Association for which he was treasurer and area representative. Mr Marshall was voted a Shipmate of the Year for the services to the association in 1987.

The funeral arrangements are being handled by R and H Barker, of Didcot.