Former shipyard MD Michael Pyman dies

Nov 4 2009 The Journal

A RESPECTED former shipyard managing director has died, aged 84.

Michael Pyman started his long and successful career as an apprentice at Hawthorn Leslie Ship Builders on the Tyne in the 1940s and worked there until his retirement.

Mr Pyman was born on April 22 1925 in Hartlepool and died on October 28, following a long but bravely-fought illness.

Educated at Rugby School and Cambridge University, the father-of-three also served in the Royal Navy in the Far East from 1945 until 1947.

Following this, Mr Pyman followed his father into shipping and joined Hawthorn Leslie Ship Builders, which later became known as North East Coast Ship Repairers, where he worked his way to the top.

Mr Pyman, an all-round and very capable sportsman, met his beloved wife Elspeth at a dance in Newcastle in 1963 and the couple went on to have three children.

Mr Pyman, who lived in Gosforth, Newcastle, played rugby for Hartlepool Rovers and County Durham, as well as cricket at Lords for Cambridge University.

He was also a keen golfer and a member of the Northumberland Golf Club for many years.

The grandfather-of-seven maintained his fitness throughout his life and achieved a 1 hour 58 minute time in the Great North Run, aged 69.

One of his greatest loves was mountain climbing and skiing and he scaled Kilimanjaro in his sixties and enjoyed holidays trekking in Nepal.

Such was his love of sport, that he continued to play golf until last summer, when lung problems forced him to stop.

Mr Pyman, who was High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear in 1987, also was a great supporter of local charities, most notably the Calvert Trust in Kielder, where he donated a disabled climbing wall, Zonk’s Mountain.

Mr Pyman leaves his loving wife of 46 years, Elspeth, and his three children Jonathan, 45, Mark, 44, and Anna, 41.

He also has seven grandchildren, aged from two to 12 years old, all of whom will sadly miss the family man who prided himself on keeping in close contact with his relatives, including his 51 first cousins.

Mr Pyman’s daughter Anna Skelton said: “Dad had 83 good years and one bad year, so we have to be thankful for that.

“He was a real family man and a very friendly person.

“He had an extremely active life and skied from an early age.

“He was even invited to join the British Winter Olympics team in the 1940 games.

“Unfortunately he was too young at 14, so was invited to be in the B-team but turned them down, although the games never took place due to the war.

“Dad was fit right up until the last year of his life and even asked for a new pair of skis for his 80th birthday.

“His last ski trip to the Alps was in February 2008.”

“He defied medical reason by the way he fought his illness.

“He never took a painkiller because he didn’t like them and was very brave throughout the final year of his life.

“He was well-known in the region by the many friends that he made through his work, sport and by supporting local charities.

“We know that he will be sadly missed by all.”