HOLMSTRÖM MATTS, BRUNO

 

Holmström Matts, Bruno, Mollyhawks, was born in Föglö, Åland, on 4.12.1907 and died in Mariehamn on 9.10.1996.

Bruno Holmström commenced his seafaring career in 1925 in the schooner LINDEN.

He obtained his Master's certificate in Mariehamn in 1936.

He served as 3rd Mate of the s s THORNBURY and the 4- masted barque PAMIR, Chief Mate of the THORNBURY and PAMIR, 2nd Mate and acting Chief Mate of the s s HILDEGAARD, and Master of the THORNBURY, HILDEGAARD, s s BRETTENHAM, m v MARGARETA, m v AGNETA and m t OLAV.

He retired in 1969.

Bruno Holmström rounded Cape Horn four times : in the barque PONAPE in 1926-27, and in the PAMIR in 1932,1934, and 1935.

He was awarded the Cape Horners medal in 1980, and also received the Cross of Freedom, and the Åland Shipowners'Association gold medal for long, faithful service.

He was a member of the Committee of the Ålands Section of A.I.C.H.

Bruno Holmström was a skilful builder of ship models. He started that hobby while he was Master of the OLAF, and the model he built of that ship is now in the Åland Maritime Museum. Made of metal in the scale 1:100, the model took him 1000 hours to built. He subsequently built models of the THORNBURY, HILDEGAARD and PAMIR. The model of the PAMIR is made of wood and was built in 1934-35 while he was Chief Mate.

He donated his models of the HILDEGAARD and PAMIR to the Åland Maritime Museum in 1984.