Portaferry man Desmond retires after 36 years’ work

Portaferry man Desmond retires after 36 years’ work

7 May 2025

A PORTAFERRY man who worked as a boatman for Queen’s University has retired after 36 years’ service.

Born and bred in the village, Desmond Rodgers joined the Merchant Navy when he left school and spent 10 years at sea before an opportunity came up to work with the world renowned Belfast university.

Desmond’s job was looking after the boat and taking students and lecturers out into Strangford Lough and he also spent a fair bit of time doing work on plankton in the Irish Sea.

Preparing for a happy retirement, Desmond counts himself lucky in that Queen’s brought students from all around the world whom he spent time on the water with.

“It was  constant and it was great being able to help them,” he said.

“I was able to help them with equipment and advising what they needed, for example, what types of nets they would need to do their projects.”

Desmond said some of the projects would have lasted three years.

“It certainly was nice to work with them and I found them all very grateful. They were always very grateful about the help we gave them,” he said.

Queen’s said Desmond helped hundreds of students across multiple subjects during his time with the university.

“Our marine lab, based in Portaferry, is a vital research facility for students studying different subjects, from marine biology to geography. Although officially retired now, Desmond still dedicates some of his time to helping students and lecturers,” the university said.

“Portaferry is a hive of activity for marine life and has the second strongest tidal flow in Europe, making it an ideal place for students from all over the world to study.”

Queen’s added: “People like Desmond are instrumental to making sure our students get the best experience during their time at Queen’s, so they can go on to shape the world.”