On 31 March 2005 Mel Boyd retired as Chief Executive of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, having held the post for almost twenty years. Mel graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, as a civil engineer. He initially worked for John Laing & Son on several projects in Great Britain before joining the Commissioners of Irish Lights in 1970. Rising to the post of Engineer-in-Chief in 1982, he became Chief Executive in 1985.

Mel has seen great changes in the shape of the Service, including the reduction of lighthouse tenders from four to one, and the replacement of lightvessels by high focal plane and large automatic navigational buoys. During his watch he was involved with the infrastructure required for the introduction of helicopter operations-in particular the construction of offshore helipads and shore helibases, the automation of lightvessels and of all remaining watched lighthouses, construction of the buoy-shed in the Depot in Dun Laoghaire, the development and introduction of a new ship design; and, happily, in the week of his retirement, secured the go-ahead for the building of our new corporate office and engineering works at Dun Laoghaire.

He will continue to support the Commissioners in a consultancy role as we integrate our Dublin and Dun Laoghaire operations, but this should still leave much time for him to enjoy his interest in education, sailing, choral music, rugby, and more.

On his retirement Mel highlighted the attitude and loyalty of our Lightkeepers as automation was realised and he recalled moments happy and sad from his time with Irish Lights.

Serving under eight Chairmen, and enjoying working with our sister General Lighthouse Authorities, Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board, Mel carried out much unseen work as Chief Executive and held a steady course politically and financially when the future of the Service was unsure. Under his guidance Irish Lights set high standards of design and development in service to mariners.

Mel was recently made an Honorary Personal Member of IALA-the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities-in recognition of his keen interest and work internationally since 1980. In his valedictory address Clive Davidson, President of IALA referred to Mel as 'a source of international contacts and a quiet achiever' and spoke of the constructive way in which he had been responsible for great harmony at the IALA Council where he had been appointed Treasurer in 1996.

We in Irish Lights agree that it has been a pleasure to work with this quiet achiever and would like to thank him, and wish him and his wife Mary many happy years of retirement.