David Christian, the last direct link to the formative days of the island’s original main Ford motor car and tractor dealers, has died, in his 90th year.

Mr Christian was the younger son of E. B. Christian & Co founder Edward Bradley Christian - fondly known as ’EB’.

David’s elder brother, Norman, with whom he ran the business for some 40 years after the death of their father, predeceased him in 1995.

They were the two sons in a family of five siblings that grew up on North Quay, Douglas, in the pre-Second World War years. They had three sisters - Rene, Mona and Pat.

David, the youngest of the five, always spoke fondly of a very happy childhood, growing up in a vibrant part of the island’s capital in an area full of interest and colourful characters.

During the winter, he loved looking out from the family home at the Steam Packet ferries laid-up for the season along the ’Tongue’ and North Quay areas.

By the age of nine he was serving petrol in his father’s first garage, which became known as the Lucas Depot - next door to their house - specialising in the auto-electrical side of the business.

This garage was notable for a large turntable in the centre of what was a relatively narrow workshop area. The building was sold in the 1980s and became part of the Clinch’s development.

As the company evolved and developed, ’EB’ bought a row of properties facing directly up the harbour on the site of the current Portofino restaurant. This area was redeveloped in the early 1950s and, after also incorporating the former Bradley’s coal yard to the rear, it made way for a purpose-built Bridge Garage that included a spacious workshop, showroom, forecourt and spares department.

Having sold Ford motor vehicles from as early as 1935, the new dealership soon flourished as cars became increasingly more affordable to the masses.

Having had his National Service delayed while he completed his motor engineering apprenticeship, David was to spend two years between 1951 and 1953 in Egypt in the Suez Canal zone - a period of his life he described as the most exciting. He was first in the Royal Artillery Corps, then transferred into the Royal Engineers (REME).

Returning to the island, he rejoined his brother Norman in the family business, while resuming an active interest in off-road motorcycling.

Following the death of his father in the mid-1950s, David was keen to broaden his horizons. He travelled to America in 1957, and was later joined by his fiancee, Sheila. They married in Cleveland, Ohio, in February 1958, and later returned to the island and the family business.

EB Christian’s continued to grow, and the White Hoe tractor division and JCB agency was followed by the Airport Garage in Ballasalla.

Norman’s son, Edward, and David’s son Peter followed their respective fathers into a business that continued to hold its place in an increasingly competitive market.

Situated in a desirable area of Douglas harbour, Bridge Garage was sold in 1998 and later developed to form the Quay West apartments and restaurant.

White Hoe Garage continued its development as an industrial site behind the former tractor outlet, and David’s involvement never completely stopped.

He gradually lost most of his sight over the past decade due to macular degeneration. This may have brought to an end his love for skiing, but it didn’t stop him donning his boots and skis for a rare opportunity to ski on his rear lawn during the heavy snow of 2013.

Unassuming and unselfish, he always put the welfare and thoughts of others ahead of his own.

He was commended for saving the life of a child that fell into Douglas harbour and also bravely assisted with the rescue of a young boy stranded on the steep cliffs behind Douglas gas works. David was also quick to react to aid a severely injured female skier in the Austrian Tyrol in the late 1980s.

His sense of humour never deserted him, even in the last few weeks of his life when he was a patient in Noble’s Hospital and at Clatterbridge in Liverpool.

He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends, particularly his wife Sheila and his children Lesley, Susan and Peter.

David Christian’s funeral service will take place at Braddan Parish Church, 12.30pm on Wednesday, March 13.

This week's edition of the Isle of Man Examiner will feature a sporting nostalgia on David’s involvement in motorsport.