A MAN who reigned as the King of Piel Island for fifteen years has died after a short illness. 

Steve Chattaway, 64, died of hepatic encephalopathy on Monday, February 20. Alongside wife Sheila, they ran the Ship Inn on Piel Island for fifteen years.

In 2021 they stepped down as landlords because of the challenges the business was facing as a result of the pandemic.

When they handed over the keys the couple said they had been looking to stay longer but 'it wasn't meant to be.' 

The Mail: Steve had a profound love of boats from his childhood in Walney Steve had a profound love of boats from his childhood in Walney (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Chattaway joined a long tradition of Kings of Piel Island when he became the landlord of The Ship Inn in 2006. 

His coronation ceremony on Saturday, September 13, 2008 was a famous one as it was immortalised in the Martin Clunes television series Islands of Britain. 

He had always loved the area as he grew up in Biggar village on the south end of Walney island. 

READ MORE: Nostalgia: TV star meets a new king at Piel Island coronation

Sheila said: "He loved the wildlife and the people who visited. Steve grew up in The Queens Arms in Biggar village. His parents had that for twenty years.

The Mail: Steve loved the island and the wildlife Steve loved the island and the wildlife (Image: Sheila Chattaway)

"He just loved the island he loved Walney, just being out with his camera."

His brother John said: "We're Walneyites and we all have my dad's love of boats. All of his brothers visited him on the island. It was like his utopia. He loved the wildlife and he loved the people coming over. He stayed over winter which a lot of landlords don't do." 

Mrs Chattaway, who had been with him for fifty years, said he was 'kind, generous and gentle.' 

"He was kind every day to everybody - if I have got it you can have it," she said.

He worked part-time at Walney fire station for a period of his life. 

John said his brother's passion was in cooking and he made food for the Air Cadets at Halton Barracks.

"One cadet said that the food was fantastic, he got better food when he came for those weekends," he said.

"Steve was kind, generous and pleasant." 

His funeral is on Friday March 3 at 9.15am at Thorncliffe Crematorium on Devonshire Road.