David (Dave) Gerrard (63), in partnership with his wife, Mary, was an active supporter of Arbroath lifeboat, the local Sea Cadet Unit, Sea Fest and St Andrew's Church to name but a few. His death has stunned the town in which he had made his home since 1952.

Mr Gerrard came to Arbroath from St Monans when he was eight years old and attended Abbey and Hayshead primary schools and Arbroath High School.

He left school at the age of 15 and began an apprenticeship in the boatyard, Gerrard Bros., run by his father, Andrew, and his uncle, Alexander, adjacent to the lifeboat shed. He worked his way through the various disciplines to become a master boatbuilder and, in the mid-1980s, he and his brother, Andrew, became partners and ran the company following the retiral of his father.

The business ceased trading in 1995. At that time, his wife, Mary, started a business, B & M Services, which repaired boats, mainly on the West Coast. However, because of the travelling involved, that business was wound down. Since then, Mr Gerrard had repaired free of charge Sea Cadet boats from all over the country at a unit in Dens Road.

Mr Gerrard joined the crew of the Arbroath lifeboat in 1962 and was appointed emergency coxswain in 1983. In 1990 he was appointed second coxswain. He became coxswain in 1993 and served in that capacity until he retired from the service in 1999. He also crewed the inshore lifeboat from 1969 to 1990.

However, following his retiral, he continued to support the lifeboat in any way he could and helped Mary in the shop at the lifeboat shed.
In 1978, Mr Gerrard took his nephew along to join the Sea Cadets and while he was there he was asked to give a talk on the lifeboat. He was later asked to join the staff and, in 1980, became commanding officer, a position he held up to his death.

Over the years his influence led to many local boys and girls joining the Royal Navy and former cadets regularly visited to tell him of their progress.

Two years ago he was awarded the Sea Cadet Meritorious Medal for his service.

He also supervised the cadets on many overseas trips, including three to Gibraltar and eight to Austria and others to UK venues such as the English canals.

He was also a committee member and latterly a director of Arbroath Sea Fest since its inception 10 years ago and applied himself to making the event a success.

Mr Gerrard was a member of St Andrew's Church and regularly acted as driver for excursions and trips. He was also interested in the activities of the Musketeers basketball teams in which his nephew and late niece had both played and supported them at their games.

In August, 1996, Mr and Mrs Gerrard scooped a jackpot of £1,217,493 in the National Lottery and shortly thereafter moved house from Glenogil Drive to Denley Court.

Mr Gerrard is survived by his wife, Mary, a sister, Beatrice, a brother, Andrew, and there are six nieces and nephews.