The States police this week revealed that forensic tests have confirmed a bone found by a diver in March belonged to 61-year-old Roy Deeming, who disappeared on Christmas Eve 2014.
During a major search operation the following day, his boat, Desirée – a well-known local vessel which was involved in the ‘little ships’ evacuation of troops from St Malo in 1940 – was found drifting unoccupied off the south-west coast.
No trace of Mr Deeming was found at the time and the operation was called off. The States police later said that Mr Deeming, who was a father, had previously spoken about taking his own life.
Former St Brelade Constable Mike Jackson described Mr Deeming as a ‘character’ and a ‘true part of St Aubin’.
‘Everybody in St Aubin knew him.
‘He loved his boat and was a bit of a wanderer. When he went out on his boat that Christmas no one thought anything of it, as it was just the sort of thing he would have done.
‘Roy was a nice guy and very easy to get on with, but he was quite introverted. I supposed with introverted people they can have problems locked up that no one knows about,’ said Mr Jackson.
‘It is very sad, but at least there is now some closure for his family,’ he added.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Sean Power, whose boat was berthed next to Mr Deeming’s in St Aubin’s Harbour, said that ‘St Aubin is poorer for his loss’.
He added: ‘Roy was a lovely guy. He loved his boat and helped me out when I was doing work on mine.
‘He was a risk-taker. He went all the way around Britain in his boat and across to Ireland too – and the boat had a bit of a dodgy engine.
‘He was just one of life’s characters. It is very upsetting.’
