Michael Tibbs, born on November 21, 1921, passed away peacefully at home in Lynchmere on October 2, aged 102. He leaves a remarkable legacy to the communities of Lynchmere, Hammer, and Camelsdale.

During the Second World War, Tibbs joined the Navy, serving on HMS Sheffield – the flagship at the Battle of the Barents Sea. Michael was officer of the watch, guiding the ship to dodge shells from larger German opponents. He then served on submarines, including HMS Tantalus.

His wartime service saw action in the North Atlantic, Arctic, and Far East, where they completed the longest patrol by any British submarine in the Second World War. They spent 55 days at sea, and by the end, they had nothing but biscuits and tinned peaches to eat. They had several near encounters with Japanese destroyers, with one depth charge being so close that the lights shattered throughout the submarine.

He met and married Anne Wortley in 1951, and their 67-year marriage ended with her passing in 2019. Tibbs moved to Lynchmere, where he worked as Secretary of the Royal College of Physicians, modernising postgraduate medical standards until he retired.

In Lynchmere, Tibbs led initiatives that transformed local life, from directing the Lynchmere Pantomime to spearheading the acquisition of Lynchmere, Stanley, and Marley Commons, ensuring the land’s preservation for future generations. He founded the Lynchmere Society and remained active in church life, famously never missing a village event.

He briefly hit the headlines as the third person in the UK to receive the COVID vaccine, the first in the South. Tibbs’ dedication to his community earned him the Order of St Richard, set to be awarded three days after his passing.

His funeral will be held at St Peter’s Lynchmere on October 24 at midday, a fitting farewell to a man who lived life to its fullest.