ERNEST HAIGH
1926 – 2014
After a life of adventure, Ernest Haigh passed away peacefully at home on September 4th, 2014.
Born in England, Ernest and his wife Val and their three eldest daughters immigrated to Canada in 1955. In September of that year they came to Saltspring for Ernest to take up the position of farm manager at Fernwood Farm. Quickly realising that farming in Canada was not like the farming they had left behind in Britain, he purchased a new set of overalls that said “Journeyman Carpenter” and started a career in construction.
In 1968 Ernest and Val launched “Tryste”, a home-built trimaran, and began a 30-year life under sail that included two circumnavigations (one with daughters) and numerous trips around the Pacific, a rescue at sea, and building their new boat “Truce”. In 1999 they moved ashore and settled back into their garden home at the north end of Saltspring.
A self-sufficient man who accomplished all he set his mind to, Ernest was an inspiration to all who met him. He will be greatly missed by his wife Val, five daughters, son-in-law, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. There will be no service; flowers gratefully declined.
“I must go down to the sea again…”