Published by Southampton Master Mariners

Past Captain (2002) Ian William Stirling was called aloft on 22nd December, aged 89.

He was born in Bristol of a Scottish family in 1934 and received his (wartime) education at various schools in Gloustershire, Scotland and Bristol. He attended the School of Navigation at Warsash as a cadet in 1951 and served a cadetship with Clan Line until 1955.

He subsequently sailed with United Baltic, NZS and Safmarine, gaining his Masters certificate in 1961.

He was RNR from 1956-1984, his involvement there encompassing Sub’s courses, Dartmouth Training Squadron, Submarines, HMS Bulwark and NCS.

His first job ‘ashore’ was as a Junior Hydrographic Surveyor with the Port of Bristol in 1968. He became a self employed Trinity House IoW Pilot in 1970 and a Trinity House Deep Sea Pilot in 1980.

During 1981-82 he worked for 6 months as Master for Gardline Surveys. He continued his Pilotage career in Southampton, through the transition to ABP in 1988, until 1995, and Deep Sea Pilotage until 2000.

He was a self employed marine consultant and expert witness from 1982 and occasional honorary Master of the s.s.Shieldhall.

Ian was a Fellow of the Nautical Institute and member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, of the Institute of Petroleum, of the Institute of Management and of the Academy of Experts.

Ian joined the Club in 1994 and was Captain in 2002 and he and his wife Mavis, who pre-deceased him in July 2022, were regulars in the Club room and at Club functions.

Our condolences go to their daughters Claire and Caroline.