Dave Pearce is a well known figure in the Marine Industry and even more so at Shield Services Group, where has worked for over 30 years.
Dave set up the Shield Marine Division, so when he announced his retirement we took the opportunity to ask him a few questions, and include a few photos.

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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to work in:

a: the Marine Industry,

I was born and raised on the Isles of Scilly and was always close to the sea – either in it or on it – and I consider these early years to have been a real benefit to my development. Growing up on a small Island is a unique experience in itself, but for me, it gave me an insight from an early age on the importance of being able to play, work and travel by boat.

When I left the Islands and came to Cornwall, I kept up my relationship with the sea in both my leisure and work activities and continued along a similar path with leisure competitive rowing and sailing, in and around Falmouth. I also worked at oyster fishing and boat repairs in the area and felt very fortunate to be living close to the sea.

I later became involved in a project in Bergen, Norway, through a friend who had been involved in sea fishing projects all over the world. The work was R&D on a system for long lining on large sea going fishing vessels. We were based on an island off Bergen and the work was varied, often having to work through the night preparing for the next day’s operations. At the time, I found the work interesting and demanding and so I suppose in the main my life continued along the same path of Marine activities.

I guess that circumstance often steers our course and the choices we make. Add to that the influences of our peers which helps shape our future. The combination of all these things influences our journey and direction and of course, our own experiences as we go through life.

& b: Shield?

I first heard of Shield in the early nineties, when the company was looking for assistance at Falmouth Docks on a marine project that was due to commence imminently. I contacted them through the project manager Paul Foster from Bristol and started on the same day.

The work involved marine joinery and insulation – both of which I had some previous experience of, and the extent of the work was the modification within the holds of four large Japanese Reefers.

The first of these went well and we were subsequently invited to continue with the other vessels. And so my relationship with Shield had begun.

How did the Shield Marine Division start?

After the work at Falmouth on the reefers, we were asked to submit prices for work on a large RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) ship. We won the work and I managed the project.

Following this project, the relationship between A&P Falmouth and Shield was established and I was tasked with developing the business within Falmouth docks. I started visiting the docks weekly looking for works – which proved successful and although the industry at the time was in the doldrums, I managed to develop the business by linking up with new and existing contacts.

A real turning point for me was when Phillip House, MD of Shield called me –  I remember I was at The Southampton boat show when Phil called. He asked if I would like to join Shield and set up the Shield Marine Division. I accepted and from there was given the freedom to manage and develop the division completely, with the support of Shield.