Tribute to Island seaman and yacht club life member Michael

An Isle of Wight seaman who was working in the middle of The Solent during the great storm of 1987 has died.

Michael Sidney Young, of Cowes, died at St Mary’s Hospital on June 20, aged 80.

He was born on June 4, 1944, and studied at Cowes Secondary Modern School, now Cowes Enterprise College, in the 1950s.

On leaving school, he swiftly established a career as a seaman, firstly for Trinity House, then for the Merchant Navy, where he travelled throughout the world on a range of freight ships.

He later returned to Trinity House to work within the pilotage service in The Solent and in 1972, he married Jan.

Michael saw many changes at Trinity House, including the transition from steam cutters to more modern motorised launches, as well as the pilotage service being taken over by Associated British Ports.

The late Michael Sidney Young. (Image: Contributed)

He retired in 2004, aged 60, and spent more time on his hobbies, including fishing, metal detecting and growing flycatchers and other carnivorous plants to sell at car boot sales across the Island.

He belonged to several fishing clubs, and he was also a life member of Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.

Michael is survived by his wife, Jan; son, Mark; daughter, Kate; son-in-law, Hugh, and grandson, Matthew.

Michael also leaves behind his brother, Vernon, and sister, Sally.

His funeral will be held at IW Crematorium on Monday, July 15, at 3pm, and a celebration of life will follow at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.

Everyone is welcome and the family requests that attendees wear colours other than black, if possible.