Peter de Savary death tributes to Pendennis Shipyard founder

Peter de Savary, the founder of Pendennis Shipyard, was described as a man with "tremendous vision" by his family in a statement issued after his sudden death on Sunday October 30 at the age of 78. His death follows the death of Henk Wiekens on October 19, who bought the shipyard from him.

His family said in a statement: "He was a man of tremendous vision with boundless energy, enthusiasm and attention to detail and he inspired tremendous loyalty from all those who worked with him. He was at his happiest smoking a large Cuban cigar, on a vintage sailboat with his trusty chihuahua by his side, and despite all his many achievements and successes, he always maintained the most important thing in life was family."

Peter de Savary at Falmouth Docks (Image: Falmouth Packet)

His wife Lana de Savary said: “Peter was extraordinary, not just as a businessman but as a wonderful mentor, loving husband and devoted father of his five daughters. He was a remarkable man and an enormous gap will be left in our lives without him.”

Pendennis Shipyard was born out of a local yacht building company which was acquired by Peter de Savary and then relocated to Falmouth Docks in 1988. Of the workforce brought over with the company David Bentley and Peter Wood were to become part of the management team that would ultimately take control of Pendennis, along with Henk Wiekens and Mike Carr, who joined soon after Pendennis began.

In a statement to the Packet, Mr Carr said: "Everyone working at the shipyard today owes him a debt of gratitude for founding Pendennis Shipyard in the first place. 

"We always counted ourselves blessed to have met and worked for Peter.  He was so supporting, opening many doors for us in the early days and ultimately agreeing to sell the business to us.  We used to say that 'there was never a dull day when Pds was around'.

Mr de Savary was Born July 11, 1944 on a farm in England.

Peter de Savary meets the Princess of Wales Diana (Image: Falmouth Packet)

He was a well known international entrepreneurial businessman, who, since the age of 16, applied his skills in many areas, including the petroleum industry, shipping, shipyards, property, import/export and the club and hospitality industry amongst others. His activities spanned three continents.

As well as founding Pendennis Shipyard in the early days, at one time he owned Falmouth Docks as well and had the Port Pendennis housing complex built. He established Falmouth as a bunkering port once more when he founded Falmouth Oil Services.

He also once owned Lands End and stood as a candidate for Sir James Goldsmith's Referendum Party at Falmouth & Camborne, a constituency and had numerous properties in the UK including in St Mawes.

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As the driving force and chairman of various companies he was responsible for the success of 13 shipyards and established a significant international ship refuelling company and had been at the helm of three oil refineries.

He founded the worldwide St. James Clubs (London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York and Antigua) and the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle (Scotland, venue for Madonna’s wedding). His successes also included Glenborrodale Castle (Scotland), Stapleford Park (England), Cherokee Plantation (South Carolina), Carnegie Abbey (Newport, Rhode Island), Bovey Castle (England) and the Abaco Club (Bahamas).

During his extensive business career he accumulated many awards including; Tourism Personality of the Year; the England for Excellence Award sponsored by the English Tourist Board for his achievements at Littlecote Park and Lands End, and the Come to Britain award in 1986. Other awards include numerous environmental, preservation and historical achievements as well as winning Best Golf Resort in England for Bovey Castle at the World Travel Awards 2005.

A knowledgeable sailor, he participated in the 17 nation Admirals Cup in 1981 and led the British team for the America’s Cup Challenge in 1983. A boxer and athlete in his youth, he was a keen horseman as well as building and operating seven championship golf courses.

A well known philanthropist, he particularly helped underprivileged and handicapped children and was a patron and board member of the British Teenage Cancer Trust, a Governor of the Newport Health Care Corporation and supported generously numerous charities.

He was a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, The Duke of Edinburgh Golf Society, The Lyford Cay Club, The Royal Burnham Yacht Club, The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Royal Dart Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club.

In 2012 Peter de Savary was appointed by the Government of Grenada as an International Ambassador with full diplomatic status for inward investment and tourism.

His family said in a statement: "Having started out with nothing when he left school at 16, his entrepreneurial spirit, creative vision and the wonderful friendships he made throughout his career helped the many successes he had. He forged partnerships based on friendship across the world, working with local partners from the offset of his career, starting in the 1960s when he established an import/export business in Nigeria, then in the Middle East in the 1970s where he collaborated on projects ranging from oil contracts with the national oil company, to the creation of a royal camel milking parlour for the King of Saudi Arabia."