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21 Oct 2025

Celebrated dockyard veteran remembered for service and community spirit

A legacy of service and community

Celebrated dockyard veteran remembered for service and community spirit

Brian Rogers

Brian Francis Rogers, a devoted grandfather, loving husband, and proud father, passed away on August 26, 2024, at the age of 80. 

Earlier this year, The Moorlander featured Brian in a heartwarming story for his 80th birthday, when his former employer, Serco, arranged for him to revisit one of the tugs he had worked on at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.

This special birthday treat brought him great joy, marking a moment of celebration in a life dedicated to service.

Born on February 24, 1944, in Plymouth’s Stonehouse district on Hastings Street, Brian's life was shaped by his deep love for his family and his community.

After moving to Torpoint during his childhood, Brian’s future seemed destined to revolve around the sea. 

At just 15 years old, he began his lifelong career at Devonport Dockyard, starting as a Runner Boy. 

Over the next five decades, Brian worked on tugs, first with the Ministry of Defence and later under Serco, serving on vessels like the Superman and Myrtle. 

His dedication and love for his work earned him the Imperial Service Medal, a recognition of his long-standing contribution. 

He retired at the age of 65, after half a century of service.

Brian’s love story with his wife, the then-known Ivanka Sedić (maiden name), is one of fate and perseverance.

In 1966, on an exchange trip to Eisenstadt, Austria, with the Liskeard Young Farmers’ Association, a sudden family death meant Brian had to stay in a hostel and eat at a local restaurant. 

It was there he met Ivanka, who was unexpectedly working in the restaurant after stepping in for her cousin. 

Their instant connection led to a long-distance romance, with Brian learning German so they could write to each other.

In 1969, after two years of writing letters, Brian proposed to Ivanka by post, and shortly after, he travelled to Banja Luka, in what was then Yugoslavia, now Bosnia and Herzegovina, to meet her family. 

Despite the emotional challenges of leaving her homeland, Ivanka’s family welcomed Brian, and the couple married that same week. 

After a honeymoon in Austria, they settled in Torpoint, where Ivanka became a cherished part of the community.

ABOVE: Brian and Ivanka on a Cornish beach

In later life, Brian enjoyed spending time in the garden, painting, and fixing anything that needed attention. 

His dedication to maintaining his home and garden was second to none. 

He could often be found tinkering around the property, ensuring everything was in top shape. He spoke fondly of his days at sea, particularly about the knots he learned to tie as part of his work with naval ships. 

One of his grandsons recalls how Brian could effortlessly lasso a knot onto anything, a skill he mastered with the strong ropes used in his job.

Brian also loved visiting his local Legion, the Torpoint & District Comrades and United Services Club, where he spent many an evening with friends. 

ABOVE: Brian and Ivanka pictured in front of Plymouth Sound last year (2023)

Every Saturday night before the COVID pandemic, Brian, his wife and their friends would go for a drink, watch live bands, and dance with their partners, enjoying the lively atmosphere. He also participated in an annual boat trip departing from Plymouth, where he reunited with his old dockyard colleagues for a boat trip, a cherished tradition that kept his ties to the sea alive.

His infectious humour and joy for life were constants, and he loved reminiscing about his time at the dockyard with fellow shipmates at RMAS functions.

Despite his later years being marked by dementia, Brian remained proud of his life’s journey. He spoke fondly of The Moorlander article that celebrated his 80th birthday, often showing it to nurses and joking about how he was “famous in the news.”

Brian leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Ivanka, their children, grandchildren, and countless friends. 

His legacy of love, laughter, great sense of humour and service will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

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