Young, Mike

October 15th, 2005 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | No Comments »

Mike Young

Mike Young was born in Stockton-on-Tees on 19^th August 1942, educated at a small private school in Hartlepool, Rosebank, he was one of three pupils in a single class who went on to join HMS Conway where he was a cadet from 1956-1959.

Mike joined Brocklebank’s from Conway and remained with them until 1972, gaining his master’s Certificate before his 26^th birthday and serving in all ranks to Chief Officer. He began his training with Tees Pilots in February 1972 and, after a long and fulfilling career completed his service as a Tees Bay Pilot on 28^th February 2003. Mike simultaneously served with distinction in the Royal Naval Reserve until August 1992, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

A modest man yet he was both intelligent and thoroughly capable. In the truest sense of the word he was also a good man, this natural goodness often displayed itself in small individual acts of kindness toward his colleagues and friends and he would not wish for this obituary to be long-winded or over effusive. That said it would not be reasonable to move on without asserting the fact that, in a long career Mike inspired affection and respect in equal measure to all he worked with. He spoke ill of no one and, after retirement found real contentment in the teaching of navigation to aspiring skippers at Whitby’s Fisherman’s College. Viv and Andrew, his family will miss him most of all but many others will regret the passing of a fine pilot and a truly good man.

Geoff Taylor (Tees)