Former Great Yarmouth port executive Michael Boon has died

Michael Boon, the first chief executive of the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners, died at his Gorleston home on May 23 following a long battle with cancer.

He was 82 years old.

Michael Boon at the opening of the Herring Bridge in February. (Image: Denise Bradley)He led the port from 1977 until 1999 and, when he started, is thought to have been the youngest person in the country to have been appointed as a port chief executive.

Serving on a host of authorities throughout his career, Mr Boon chaired a short-sea shipping group representing the UK in Brussels.

With the Port Authority, he also organised for touring tall ships to visit the quay in the early 1980s.

"However, Michael's greatest achievement was seeing the Outer Harbour built," said Pamela, his widow.

FLASHBACK: The Outer Harbour still under construction in 2008. (Image: Mike Page)As one of its planners, Mr Boon completed a variety of groundwork throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including promoting vital legislation which led to the Outer Harbour's completion in 2009.

"He was retired by the time it was finished," Mrs Boon, 86, added. "But he put in a lot of the leg work, and although he never boasted, you could tell he was proud of that.

"The port was his life. He always had a great vision for it and it became bigger and bigger."

FLASHBACK: Tour of the new Outer Harbour in Great Yarmouth showing work so far including the new cranes in position in 2009. (Image: Newsquest Archives)Outside of his day job, Mr Boon acted and director with the town's amateur theatre company, the Masquers, alongside his wife. 

He was involved in efforts to save the redundant St George's Church from demolition in the 1970s and raised funds for its conversion into a theatre and arts centre for the town. St George's Theatre is still a prominent arts venue to this day.

Michael and Pamela Boon with a Masquer's programme. (Image: Newsquest Archives)Mrs Boon said: "Michael's other love in life was the theatre. We went to Stratford-upon-Avon every year, stayed at the Shakespeare Hotel and watched play after play.

"His favourite was Richard III - nobody could say a word against him."

Mr Boon retired from the Port Authority in 1999, entering a new chapter where he delved into studying local history.

In the early 2000s, he co-authored 'Yarmouth is an Antient Town' with Frank Meeres – a history book which was distributed to 8,000 pupils.

Michael Boon with copes of 'Yarmouth is an Antient Town' in 2002. (Image: Newsquest Archives)A proud pupil of Great Yarmouth Grammar School from 1953 until 1959, Mr Boon maintained close ties with his classmates and ran the old students' annual dinner association until his death.

With a keen interest in tennis, Mr Boon had been a member of the town's tennis club since 1958 and served as president of the Gorleston Lawn Tennis Club since 1995.

In the early 60s, Mr Boon trained as a chartered accountant with local firm Lovewell Blake, later joining its responsible auditor team.

Michael Boon, during his tenure as Great Yarmouth Port and Haven chief executive. (Image: Submitted)Taking a career break to study English and Law at Nottingham University, Mr Boon returned to work as an accountant with the Caister Group in 1972 before climbing the ladder at Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners in 1974.

He and Mrs Boon married in 1973 at Bradwell church.

Pamela and Michael Boon on their wedding day. (Image: Submitted)A lifelong learner, Mr Boon served on the board of East Norfolk Sixth Form College Foundation as he continued his own studies of mediaeval literature at Cambridge University.

Until his death, Mr Boon was working on a PhD at the University of East Anglia, exploring the relationship between ports at Yarmouth and London in the 15th century.

Mr Boon had hoped to turn his studies into a book to leave for future generations of the town.

FLASHBACK: Former Great Yarmouth High School pupils Walter Nicholson (left) and Michael Boon search for themselves in old school photographs in 2001. (Image: Newsquest Archives)In their Gorleston family home surrounded by books, records and many a photo, Mrs Boon said she has been touched by the number of cards she has received in condolence.

"It just goes to show the impact Michael had," she said.

"He will be greatly missed."

Mr Boon is survived by his widow and their daughter, Melody.

His funeral will be held at Great Yarmouth Minster at 1.30pm on June 25.