After tormenting Kevin Blamire for the past week on his retirement I think it is only fair that I give him credit for all that he achieved at his time with the Holt Group.

I will do my best not to make it sound like a eulogy and will not apologise for any inadvertent jokes at his expense.

Kevin was plucked from obscurity back in the early 1990’s, he had only been a Radio City DJ back in his hometown of Liverpool before entering the Nightclub scene reaching the pinnacle of General Manager of the iconic Shaftsbury’s nightclub in Shaftsbury Avenue in London’s West End. Where; if it is to be believed; he was friend to the stars.

You can see then why he was so keen to come to Kip Marina to become our Hospitality Manager.

Kevin took on the role with relish (pun intended) building a children’s play area which he cunningly had sponsored by “Fresh’n’Lo” transforming the outlet into a family Restaurant.

Over his time at The Chartroom he attracted many Glamorous Events including the RNLI summer ball, the Chamber of Commerce awards, Inverclyde Hospice Ladies days etc.

There were countless more events which included Sports Stars like Doddie Weir and Kevin Keegan, Comedians like Milton Jones and many musical artists.

Kevin also assisted in the other company hospitality venues including the Isle of Gigha, Silversands Lossiemouth, and the Companies other interests over the years.

He was instrumental in rebranding the Secondhand boat show into becoming Scotlands Boat Show frightening the daylights out of us all with the success of his marketing with the turnout in our first year.

Kevin worked with a team further developing Scotland’s Boat Show to ever increasing attendance, attracting the sponsorship to make it viable and expanding the show to include Food and shopping Pavilions with presentations from celebrities like Nick Nairn.

All who attended, supported and worked at Scotland’s Boat Show have fond memories of the Show. Sadly, despite best efforts we could not sustain the event as free due to the increasing costs and legislative requirements post Covid.

Covid had an impact on Kevin’s role within the Company, with him accepting a new challenge at Fairlie Quay as Executive Manager.

With his accustomed zeal and using his hospitality skills to attract sailors…to use our pier facility.

He transformed our pier offering, attracting Naval vessels both foreign and domestic, Commercial ships, regular Cruise traffic, fish farm support vessels etc.

Kevin and his staff have done so much to improve the Fairlie Quay facility and I can say without challenge that he leaves Fairlie in a far superior position than how he found it.

Speaking of challenges, Kevin was challenging at times (being generous here) and all who have worked for and with him will be all too familiar with his “it’ll be fine” attitude, his love of crises management (generally self-generated) and causing skin of the teeth deadlines.

We are all grateful to Kevin for his efforts and sense of humour and humanity together with being a pal over the years.

I have been uncharacteristically generous, so this post will self-destruct in ten seconds and I will return to taking credit for all his successes!

I am sure you will all join us in wishing him well in his retirement.