Tall Ships Youth Trust is saddened to share the news of Michael Sumerling’s passing.

Michael died earlier this month in The Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia, after a long fight with cancer.

He was the first engineer to work on the Sir Winston Churchill in 1966 and was a crew member for several years thereafter.

His daughter, Julia Sumerling, told us:

The time that he spent working on Sir Winston Churchill, were the times that he talked about the most and were his fondest memories in his later years.

A memorial service will be held on the tall ship training vessel, The One and All, which Michael had been involved with, and a supporter of, since it was built in the early 1980s.

Julia, added:

As part of the memorial, his ashes will be scattered at sea, which is where his heart will always lay. This event will happen much later at the end of the year, when all of his family and loved ones are able to be present.

Julia kindly shared the above photograph of her Dad’s time on Sir Winston Churchill in 1966.

If you have any memories or photos of Micheal Sumerling, please email them to kelly.field@tallships.org