Distinguished pilot warden and harbourmaster Edward Welch was yesterday laid to rest at sea.Deputy pilot Warden Mario Thompson recalled him as a lifelong native of St George’s and a formal and taciturn man who mentored countless young men in the trade.His niece Regina Robinson recalled the 69-year-old as “very business-oriented — he lived for the sea”.She said Pilot Welch embarked on what would become the definitive trade of his life “right after he left school”.“He had a three-year apprenticeship and became a branch pilot in 1963,” she said.The distinguished Marine and Ports pilot started out on the Oleander and served on vessels of all sorts in a career that spanned more than four decades.“He spent just about all his time on the ocean. If he wasn’t working the pilot boat, he was working his part-time job,” Mrs Robinson said.Pilot Welch also operated a tent rental business, International Shade All, and ran a Crown and Anchor table at Cup Match.He was made a junior branch pilot in 1966, a senior pilot in 1987, and in 2002 was promoted to deputy pilot warden.A high point of pride in his life was his promotion in June 2006 to pilot warden and harbourmaster he held the post until his retirement in July 2009.In his later years, Pilot Welch moved to St David’s. He suffered from ill health following a stroke in 2010.“All the past pilots and colleagues and friends” attended a memorial on Friday at St Peter’s Church in St George’s.A more intimate gathering attended his internment at sea yesterday when the pilot boat set off from Ordnance Island, St George’s.The son of Clarence and Barbara Welch, Pilot Welch had two children, Sharon Bean and Edward Welch Jr.