Growing up in Ventnor, David has always wanted to be “by the sea, on the sea, near the sea”. Encouraged by his parents, Andy and Enid Butler, David had his own boat at Battery Bay which he used to catch crab and lobster from as his Saturday morning job.

He worked with his parents for several years, but then moved into the building trade, where he remained for 20 years before returning to boating.

Like his father, David also served in the Ventnor Coastguard for over 30 years.