Tony Rymell, who was a keen supporter of the waterways of South West England, and of electric boating, died on 4th February in Hastings at the age of 89.

Along with Sylvia, his wife, Tony’s life was spent on and around the canals and waterways, either fundraising, cruising or helping to restore various projects, in particular the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal in their beloved Somerset.  Tony sat on numerous committees, including six years as a director of the Grand Western Canal Association (now Friends of the Grand Western Canal), helping to promote the inland waterways as a leisure activity, including the development of electric and solar powered waterborne craft, with many hours spent experimenting and promoting their benefits.  Tony and Sylvia were the mainstays of IWA’s West Country Branch in its earlier years, both serving on the branch committee for over 20 years.

Tony’s involvement with alternative power led him to become chairman of the Electric Boat Association in the early 2000s. He was also instrumental in setting up Bude Canal Society (now Bude Canal and Harbour Society) in 1990.  Tony had been a member of IWA since 1972 and was West Country Branch Chairman in the 1980s and ’90s, only stepping down from the committee in 2005.  He was instrumental in the restoration of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and rented Maunsel Lock Cottage (opposite the present tea room) where he and his wife Sylvia, opened the original tea room.

In 1991, before the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal reopened, Tony and Sylvia held a meeting in Creech St Michael car park to encourage formation of the Somerset Navigators Boat Club to represent boaters on the canal.  In 1990/1, Tony and Sylvia  jointly received the IWA’s John Heap Salver, which is awarded to members who have made an outstanding contribution to fundraising.  Tony and Sylvia had transformed the finances of West Country Branch, mainly by operating the Branch trip boat Ruby.   Tony and Sylvia also compiled the original list of speakers for IWA branch meetings, the latest version of which is now here.

Sylvia died in April 2014, aged 73, after a long-illness.

[Photo supplied and article compiled with notes from Tony and Sylvia’s son and daughter, Mark and Lucy Rymell]

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