TRIBUTES have been paid to a granddad who died suddenly after an illness which has baffled doctors.
Roy Weatherill (60) of Lime Grove – a major figure in the town's RNLI – died this month after developing flu-like symptoms.
You can see the earlier story with tributes to Roy Weatherill by clicking hereHis condition quickly worsened and he was admitted to Scarborough Hospital where he was later put on a life support machine.
Despite medics fighting to save his life, Mr Weatherill deteriorated and his devastated family including wife Barbara (55), who he was married to for 35 years, were told there was nothing more they could do.
He died just four days after becoming ill on Sunday 14 June.
Born and bred in Whitby, Mr Weatherill, a master mariner, was a key part of Whitby Lifeboat Station, serving as Operations Manager, a voluntary position he has held since December 2003.
His funeral was due to be held yesterday at St Hilda's Church on the West Cliff where a huge turnout of people were expected to pay their respects.
A guard of honour for Mr Weatherill was planned involving lifeboat crews from Staithes and Whitby who saw the kind-hearted 60-year-old as their father figure.
At a later date, some of his ashes are to be scattered off Upgang Beach at sea by Staithes and Whitby lifeboat crews.
His wife Barbara told the Gazette: "The doctors are absolutely baffled about what he died from.
"It's a one in a million chance of it happening to anyone.
"We are all devastated. Roy lived and breathed the lifeboat.
"His granddad David Harland was coxswain of Whitby Lifeboat. It's in his blood.
"When the lifeboat was out on a difficult job Roy always went to the station to make sure the crew returned safely.
"His hobby was his boat on the marina and he loved Whitby and he liked to read about the local history of the town.
"We are all absolutely devastated that he's gone.
"He's just going to leave such a big hole in our lives."
For some years Mr Weatherill has been self-employed, doing survey work at Cleveland Potash and teaching students in Middlesbrough and Imming-ham, Humberside, but he dedicated most of his spare time to the lifeboat.
His early career was spent working for Palm Line cargo ships where he eventually earned his master mariner's certificate before going to work for Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority.
He was also a trustee of Whitby's Merchant Seaman's Hospital Houses in Church Street.
Coxswain of Whitby lifeboat, Mike Russell, said: "There's a lot of young lads on the crew – the youngest is 19.
"He was like a dad to them to be honest.
"He was very well thought of by everybody and was great fun.
"He was the most proactive lifeboat operations manager we've ever had.
"Training all the crew isn't part of his job.
