Graham had been at sea for some years, qualifying as a Master Mariner before he moved to the Island in the 1970s to work for Trinity House. His time there included the ‘Winston Churchill’ (which was based at Cowes) and servicing servicing The Needles Lighthouse and the Nab Tower.

Leaving in 1988, he did a stint at sea with the Admiralty, including time in the Arctic. Hearing of a position at Bembridge Harbour, he started as General Manager and Harbour Master.