SAILOR, retailer and active sportsman Barry Rolfe died suddenly on January 15, aged 72.

Mr Rolfe, pictured, was born in 1942 in Blackpool where his father was serving in the Royal Air Force. Over the next few years the family moved around quite a bit, including a period in Germany during the Berlin airlift, but eventually they settled in the Cambridge area.

On leaving school, Mr Rolfe initially worked as a trainee accountant for a construction company but soon switched to retail, joining a ladies fashion store.

Soon he was promoted and was managing an area that included a store in Reading. It was here that he met his first wife Eileen. Marriage resulted in a move to the John Lewis Partnership where he rapidly gained promotion in the organisation before attaining the position of buyer with Waitrose.

In the early 1970s Mr Rolfe moved to Johnsons Wax, becoming the regional manager for Africa and the Near East region.

Eventually he took the opportunity to retire early while working as a consultant.

Through sailing he met a new business partner, Lesley, and they built up a successful childcare business now run by his family.

Mr Rolfe first started sailing in the mid 1960s with the John Lewis Sailing Club in Reading, and it became a lifelong passion. At Parkstone Yacht Club in later years, he competed at Poole Week and served in the roles of Race Officer, Commodore and President.

In 1988 he married again, to Jacqui, and both she and her own family were also introduced to sailing.

His enthusiasm extended to his very active support of any sail training schemes to encourage new individuals to become involved.

Mr Rolfe was also at one time an officer in the Territorial Army, he ran in marathons and organised orienteering events, and was a keen and regular cyclist – enjoying tandem rides abroad with his wife.

Mr Rolfe leaves his wife, son and daughter, five grandchildren, a stepson and stepdaughter and their children.