CHAIRMAN and former managing director of Island ironmongers W. Hurst and Son Robin David McLaughlin, has died, aged 74.
Born in Newport, on December 17, 1942, Mr McLaughlin was educated at Carisbrooke Grammar School.
His ambition was to join the merchant navy and he gained a scholarship for the Naval College at Warsash, Southampton, where he trained as a cadet deck officer.
The first shipping companies Mr McLaughlin was employed by were Shaw Savill and Albion Line and he travelled worldwide.
Following a period of illness overseas, he was forced to end his naval career and returned to London to join a firm of shipping underwriters.
However, before too long, the call of the sea, family and friends brought him back to the Island and he joined W. Hurst and Son as an assistant manager, in 1964.
Mr McLaughlin, of Moortown Lane, Brighstone, guided the business for more than 40 years, from a small, Newport-based ironmongers, to the modern company of today, which has an additional five outlets across the Island — serving as its managing director, then latterly, as chairman, until his death.
He married Margaret Gustar at St John’s Church, Newport, in 1968, and the couple lived in Rookley for 47 years.
They had two daughters, Ella Beardsall and Julia Taylor.
A dedicated family man, Mr McLaughlin and his wife enjoyed sailing, travelling, walking, bird watching and playing table tennis and canasta in his spare time.
He was also an active member of the Newport Round Table and its linked group, the Vectis 41 Club.
Mr McLaughlin leaves his wife, daughters, their husbands, Toby and Matt, and three grandchildren, Rory, Zara and Wilfie.
His funeral will be held at the IW Crematorium, at 1.30pm on Wednesday.