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Obituaries:
Michael Wiltshire
Stephen Thomas
Michael Wiltshire (1936 – 2004)
Mike died in November 2004 at the age of 68.
He and I met in Cherbourg whilst we were taking part in a Channel race from the Solent in October 1964. At that time most of his sailing was as crew for boats owned by the Royal Navy, in which he served from 1953 to 1976.
He spent many happy times crewing aboard Peter Richardson’s Sea Otter and also the 12 Metre Evaine. The latter brings to mind images of him during a Cowes Week in the 1970s, trying to repair the ‘coffee grinder’ winch which had slipped, causing broken arms for both a Swede and a Norwegian crew member.
Mike became a member of the OCC in 1971 on completion of the Rock Race, a passage from Falmouth to Gibraltar. On arrival the crews were kindly entertained aboard Jim Griffin’s Northern Light, and Mike never forgot the greeting given by one of Jim’s daughters who had a washing machine and took charge of all their laundry.
Although there were many times when he was tempted to acquire his own boat, the Royal Navy’s demand on his time made this impractical and he spent more time under the water in submarines than on top of it. It was probably his naval background which inspired him in 1995 to crew on the brigantine Søren Larsen (of Onedin Line fame) from Fiji to Vanuatu in the South Pacific, and even at the age of 59 he was climbing the rigging for sail changes.
By this time he was based in Scotland, where we have lived for the last 23 years, but he still kept in touch with the many good friends he had made in the sailing world, and in 2001 he was asked to assist the Prize Committee during the America’s Cup 150 year celebrations, a task which he thoroughly enjoyed as it enabled him to see so many old and new craft.
Latterly Mike had enjoyed showing our grandchildren the fun to be had in our small dinghy whilst fishing on Loch Long at the bottom of our garden, and it was here after his sudden death last November that his ashes were scattered by our son and daughter.
Gillian Wiltshire
Stephen Thomas (1953 – 2005)
In January this year, businessman, yachtsman and mountaineer Stephen Thomas died at the age of 51, the day after achieving his latest ambition of sailing from 80°N to 65°S in his Oyster 66 Magic Dragon of Wroxham. He was out walking with his crew and friends when the ground gave way and he fell into a crevasse.
Stephen’s sailing career began at university when a group of friends decided to sail to Spain in their summer vacation. From this time on he was hooked on sailing, and at the earliest opportunity purchased a Sigma 33, Safi, together with a friend. He spent many weekends racing in the local Haven Series. Stephen then bought a Freedom 35, Magic Dragon, and with his wife, Catherine, and friends enjoyed exploring the East coast and during holidays went further afield to Norway. In 1990 he took part in the Two Handed Transatlantic Race but had to retire when one of the masts broke in mid Atlantic.
In 1995 Stephen decided to take a break from big business to sail around the world with his wife and young son James (then aged three) in the Trade Winds Rally. For this he bought an Oyster 55, Magic Dragon of Herm. This was followed by a further break in 2003 when Stephen set off on another adventure – 80°North to 65°S – with Magic Dragon of Wroxham, an Oyster 66. His family joined him in the Arctic, and again for a ten month cruise from the Canaries to Tahiti visiting the Cape Verde islands, Brazil, the Caribbean, the Galapagos, Marquesas and French Polynesia. Stephen then continued with his crew and friends via Pitcairn to Chile, and James and Catherine joined him for a family Christmas in Ushuaia before Magic Dragon departed for Cape Horn and the Antarctic. More information about Stephen’s last trip can be found on the internet at www.magic-dragon.info.
Following his round the world trip Stephen became a director of Blue Water Rallies and had recently become involved with the restoration of Gypsy Moth IV. He was keen that youngsters should be given the opportunity to sail on her, and the Stephen Thomas Sailing Bursary has been set up to assist 16–20 year olds with their expenses (details on www.stephenthomasmemorial.com).
Stephen will be sadly missed by family, friends and colleagues around the world.
Catherine Thomas
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