Tributes have been paid to renowned diver and author George ‘Ron’ Young, who has passed away, aged 82.
Ron, from Whitburn, Tyne & Wear, was a former soldier who trained with the SAS and served in Malaysia as a young man. He learnt to dive after the Army and went on to dive around the world, logging over 3,700 dives during his diving career.
A member of both BSAC and SAA, he joined Durham SAC in 1973 before forming his own club, Burnside SAC. Ron’s passion was for diving the northeast coast and when he stopped diving aged 66, he went on to write 11 diving guides, as well as write for Sub Aqua Scenes magazine, where he was awarded the Golden Writer of the Year award.
Ron, who worked as an ambulance man after leaving the Forces, is known for his books about diving the North Sea, including The Divers' Comprehensive Guide to The Farnes & Holy Island which was his all-time favourite place to dive and The Comprehensive Guide to Shipwrecks of the North East Coast. His books have gone on to be go-to references for divers looking to explore the North Sea.
George 'Ron' Young, 1937-2019
A member of both BSAC and SAA, he joined Durham SAC in 1973 before forming his own club, Burnside SAC. Ron’s passion was for diving the northeast coast and when he stopped diving aged 66, he went on to write 11 diving guides, as well as write for Sub Aqua Scenes magazine, where he was awarded the Golden Writer of the Year award.
Ron, who worked as an ambulance man after leaving the Forces, is known for his books about diving the North Sea, including The Divers' Comprehensive Guide to The Farnes & Holy Island which was his all-time favourite place to dive and The Comprehensive Guide to Shipwrecks of the North East Coast. His books have gone on to be go-to references for divers looking to explore the North Sea.
Long-time friend and dive shop owner Bob Scallion, who also contributed research to his books, said Ron had left a legacy for all divers in the UK. “As a diver he shared his knowledge and skills and this was then put into his role an author, which we still use to this day. He will be really missed.”Ron recently celebrated his Diamond wedding anniversary with wife Rose, and leaves three daughters, Denise, Karen and Diane. His eldest daughter, Denise Jackson, paid tribute to her father, who she described as ‘living for the sea'.
He always told me that you have never lived until you have been to the bottom of the ocean and when fellow divers tell me of their experiences with my dad, he never ceased to amaze me.
