Michael was a sailor through and through. We love the idea of continuing his nautical legacy through donations to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, who give thousands of young people life-changing opportunities on the water.

There will be a memorial service for Michael in Itchenor Church on Friday 10^th June at 4.30pm, and you are invited back for tea afterwards at Church Farm. This is a celebration of his - very nautical - life, so please dress however you deem appropriate!

Michael, a war baby, was born in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. Then in 1954, when he was 12, the Shaw family moved south to Bosham Hoe for the sailing and joined Itchenor Sailing Club. 

Michael participated in many Junior Fortnights, racing for the ‘Prams Challenge’ and subsequently in the ‘Bantam Cock’ with reduced rig Firefly dinghies. He attended the nautical college Pangbourne, where he excelled, passing all his A levels aged 16 and winning many academic prizes. As he was too young to attend university, he spent a year working at the Atomic Energy Authority Research at Winfrith and spent much time swimming at Lulworth Cove. He then went on to attend the University of London, from which he emerged with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Michael progressed to Firefly sailing, both at the club and university. His love of offshore sailing led to many RORC races, gaining great accolades as a seaman and navigator: with his ability to catch a sight and resolve he was able to gain significant advantages for his vessel. He signed up for the Transatlantic Race in 1963 on Baccarat, a large American Yawl, before proceeding to compete on her in several races such as Cowes Week and the Fastnet. His involvement with sailing never diminished, with Fireballs, Tempests, even a brief foray into 14s, and he placed 2^nd overall in the 1962 Sunfish Worlds whilst in the West Indies, where he was living and building houses. 

Back in Itchenor, Michael won the Mendes Cup, not once, but twice! First in 1962, as a junior member, when he sailed his 16-foot double-ended gaff-rigged day boat, Valhalla, from Copenhagen to Chichester Harbour, a total of 801 miles including 400 miles of canal and river work. He then won it again just five years later in 1967, when he sailed his 23ft Bermudian Sloop Iolanthe crewed by fellow ISC member Trevor Coleman from Chichester to English Harbour, Antigua. They encountered exceptionally bad weather in the Bay of Biscay, where they capsized and were severely damaged in a force 12 hurricane. He was awarded the Cup for ‘the successful execution of his voyage which called for exceptional courage, determination and seamanship’.

Michael continued house building, and in the 70s he went on to build a large 72ft aluminium ketch, Ayacanora. She burnt down in St. Catherine’s Dock, but undeterred, he rebuilt her, sailed her over to the USA, sold her, repossessed her, sailed her back to the UK, rebuilt her again, and subsequently resold her. In 1982, in the midst of these adventures, he met Julia who was, in his words, ‘issued to him as crew’. Michael and Julia married in 1988, and their daughters Rhianna and Tara were born in 1989 and 1992 respectively.

More recently, Michael competed in many Round the Island races in Flying Boat, crewed predominantly by family, usually placing in the top ten overall. He remained involved with ISC, running the model boat afternoons and races, as well as inventing, building and running the raft race for many Junior Fortnights. Sadly, in 2016 Michael was diagnosed with Alzheimer's; however, he remained happiest on the water, and you may have spotted him rowing down the harbour in his Skiffle and, until a few weeks ago, walking around Itchenor.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.