Shipbuilding is his hobby, teaching music - a passion

(Above) Ron Brough, at home, standing by a replica of a ketch called Racehorse, an English Naval Vessel, built in 1754. (Right) A replica of the Charles W. Morgan Whaling Ship still afloat in Mystic Seaport, Conn. Journal Photos/Virginia S. Metevia Ronald Brough is a man who loves the ocean.

His fascination with the sea began as a child during a family trip to Hampton Beach on the New Hampshire coast.

"I've always felt a magnetism to the ocean and anything connected to it," Brough said, thinking back to how it all began.

In high school he kept journals about ships and the sea.

"The journals led to studying, the studying led to interests."

Those interests include shipbuilding, kayaking, sea shanties, and the Coast Guard. Brough is a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and was part of the crew that escorted the tall Ships in 2000 and escorted the USS Constitution during her sail in 1997. He has also been into surf fishing, beach bugging, kayaking and sail training throughout the years.

Brough first took up an interest in shipbuilding as a child when he saw his mother build a model ship. He too began building plastic models of ships, eventually graduating to building wood replicas of ships. He has built a couple dozen of these and several years ago displayed them at the Forbush library.

"It's a true hobby. I do it when I feel like doing it."

The ships Brough builds are constructed like real ships; they are hollow with each plank laid down separately. He often ties his crafted ships in with literature and history including one he built to replicate the ship in Captain Courageous.

Another of his many interests is music, especially the Wachusett Woodwinds Ensemble, he directs at Oakmont Regional High School.

"I really love working with those kids. They are great kids with wonderful attitudes. We have a good time together."

He has been associated with the AshburnhamWestminster School District for 41years, first as an employee teaching in grades kindergarten through sixth, and now directing the ensemble.

Brough himself plays the piano and the trombone, which he has been playing since grade school. He also teaches private instrument lessons. He played for both John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy while they were running for office, he said. He is a graduate of Fitchburg High school, Lowell State and Lowell University.

Brough first came to town as a child to visit his grandparents Samuel and Bertha Brough.

"I would visit on Sundays, little knowing that I would end up teaching here."

Brough is also an avid reader, reading historical fiction as well as non-fiction. Much of his reading is in 18th century sail and the napoleonic wars. He has also given talks on sailing and whale fisheries.

He has given talks on other historical topics as well including one to the Westminster Historical Society, on Gettysburg as seen through the eyes of Simeon Russo. Russo was a member of the 145th Volunteer Infantry Army, of the Potomac. Russo died on Sept. 30, 1863, at Gettysburg.

Brough said he started his research because he was curious about Russo, after seeing his picture. By the time he had finished his research, he said, he was receiving copies of Russo's letters from family members and had located Russo's grave in an obscure cemetery in Trote, Pennsylvania.