Richard Linthorn Bradbeer, former Isle of Wight County Press chairman and high sheriff of the Isle of Wight from 1997 to 1998, has died at the age of 93.
He was born in Bovey Tracey, Devon, on November 15, 1928, as the second son of Leonard and Grace Bradbeer.
Mr Bradbeer had two brothers, Tom and Jonathan.
He was educated at Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, and Durham University, where he studied naval architecture.
He served his apprenticeship at Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Shipbuilders at Walker-on Tyne from 1946-1949.
Mr Bradbeer moved to the Isle of Wight to become a draughtsman at J. Samuel White in Cowes then moved to Lowestoft to become assistant yard manager at Brooke Marine.
In 1955 he married Helen Rosemary Brannon, daughter of Lt Col Charles Wilfrid Brannon and Audrey Brannon.
Rosemary was the granddaughter of George Brannon, founder of the County Press, and great-great granddaughter of artist and engraver George Brannon, who published the annual Vectis Scenery guide books to the Island.
Rosemary was a Wren during the war and worked in the accounts department of the County Press until her marriage.
They had one daughter, Amanda, who was born in 1959. Amanda also served as a director of the County Press until its acquisition by Newsquest in 2017.
Mr Bradbeer joined the County Press in 1955 and serving as assistant to George Moth, the then manager after a secondment to the Yeovil Gazette.
He became works manager and was appointed a director of the company in 1969.
Upon Mr Moth's death Mr Bradbeer became manager then managing director.
He saw the County Press through many technological changes.
As well as the County Press, Mr Bradbeer became managing director of mainland stationery company Atkins when it was bought by the County Press.
He was chairman of Crossprint and a director of Hamilton Star ltd from 1974 to 1985 and Isle of Wight Radio from 1988 to 1994.
He was elected chairman of the County Press Group upon the death of Lt Col Jim Eldridge in 1987 and relinquished the position of managing director on the promotion of Robin Freeman in 1993.
He oversaw the building of Brannon House and the move from the High Street in 1991.
Away from the CP he was a major figure in the Cowes yachting scene, being a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Royal London Yacht Club, Solent Cruising and Racing Association, Island Sailing Club and Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.
He was a past member of East Cowes Sailing Club.
He was a trustee of the Royal London, Cowes Yachting, Cowes Town Waterfront Trust, Cowes Combined Clubs, and served as chief race officer of the Royal London YC.
On the water, he was a highly experienced yachtsman who loved sailing from a young age.
He sailed in The Caribbean, Scotland, Exmouth, Newcastle, Torquay, Lowestoft and, of course, Cowes.
Among many racing achievements he finished second overall in the 1953 Fastnet Race on Lothian with Franklin Woodroffe, and sailed on the IOR Class 1 yacht Loujaine for ten years from the mid 1970s.
He owned a number of yachts over the years and concentrated on cruising in later years.
Mr Bradbeer was a past member of several mainland yacht clubs including the Royal Torbay Yacht Club and Tynemouth Sailing Club.
Mr Bradbeer served on a number of sailing related committees including the one for the America's Cup Jubilee in 2021.
He was also a trustee of the Isle of Wight Charitable Trust, the High Sheriff's Crimebeat and the Friends of St Thomas's Church.
Alan Marriott, editor of the County Press, said: "I had the pleasure of working for Mr Bradbeer for more than 30 years and he was always well loved by all the CP staff and showed a great interest in what all employees were doing.
"He took a keen interest in editorial and advertising matters and was very much a part of the fabric of Island life."
A private funeral service is to be held but a celebration of life will be held at Holy Trinity in Cowes on Tuesday, November 8, at 11.30am.
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