By Isle of Wight Observer
Well-known Island solicitor and sportsman Ian Michael Charles Heal has died aged 50, following a battle with bowel cancer.
The son of John and Christine Heal, Ian was born and raised on the Island and attended Carisbrooke High School before studying law.
After a year of working and travelling in Australia he started work with RJR Solicitors, qualifying in October 2000, then at Jeromes and Wilks Price Hounslow, always specialising in litigation. He became the Island’s main specialist housing and landlord and tenant lawyer which led him to work for the IW Law Centre and finally Churchers Solicitors, specialising in housing law. He was an active and long-standing member, and former president, of the Isle of Wight Law Society.
Outside work, Ian was well known in Island cricketing circles, primarily as ‘Skip’, the founder and captain of Carisbrooke High School Old Boys. He led them to multiple wins of the Fred Winter Cup, on tours to Torquay and to and a Channel 4 fancy dress competition win on a trip to a Test match.
A former president and committee member of Ryde and District Round Table, Ian was also a governor at Newchurch Primary School and a keen Tottenham Hotspur fan.
He leaves a wife, Faye, daughter Betsy, mother Christine, brother Ed and sister Nicky.
The funeral will take place at All Saints’ Church, Newchurch, at 1pm on Thursday, June 20 followed by burial at Springwood and a wake at Newclose Cricket Ground. Donations to Mountbatten. Family flowers only.
