Tributes paid

TRIBUTES have been paid after the former chairman of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Sir Michael Vernon died at the end of last month, aged 87.

Lerwick’s Severn class lifeboat was named after Sir Michael and his late wife Jane in 1997.

Operations manager Malcolm Craigie said Sir Michael took great pride in the Lerwick lifeboat station and had been keeping in touch ever since.

“There was no major donor for building the lifeboat and since he had close connections with Lerwick in the past and had been chairman of the RNLI for a number of years, the boat got named after him and his late wife.

“He has made annually donations to crew’s fund in recognition that the boat had been names after him. We are appreciative that he kept ties with us and has been regularly in contact over the years,” he said.

Born in 1926, he served with the Royal Marines during World War 2 and then joined Spillers Ltd in 1948 becoming chairman and CEO from 1968-1980.

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During this time he had a long association with the sea through his sailing activities.

Sir Michael was appointed to the RNLI committee of management and was its chairman between1989 and 1996.

He is survived by his third wife Penelope and his one surviving son Mark, from his first marriage, and three grandchildren.