Wendy our founder Member and first Commodore died on 9th August. Wendy had not been well for a couple of years.
Many of you will remember her and her love of the Waterways which given any opportunity she would talk about for many hours.
Along with her husband Dave, she set up and ran the training company Wildcat Enterprises based on the Oxford Canal at Fenny Compton. Wildcat the main boat was an ideal training place 70ft long with a difficult engine and tight corners to get round it gave a testing time to candidates. The main trip went along the canal through Aynho Locks, turnaround and back again. I think Wendy thoroughly enjoyed the candidate’s challenge of turning the boat! I gained my RYA certificate with her and remember the day well. In addition to training normal customers she also trained the crew of Inglesham and many on Perseverance at Saul.
Her volunteer efforts for CCT in both the training of crew and her efforts in helping to run Inglesham will always be appreciated and remembered.
Her idea of the commemorative cruise to celebrate one hundred years since the last commercial passage over the Thames and Severn Canal caught the imagination of many members of the Cotswold Canals Trust. The event had two cruises to Lechlade; one to the north via Banbury Oxford and the Thames, the second to the south via the Severn Estuary, Kennet and Avon Canal and the Thames. The event caught the imagination of the media with TV radio and the press taking up the story all over the region. Crowds turned up at the start and it remains one of the most successful events CCT has had. It was from this commemorative cruise that the Cotswolds Canal Cruising Club (the 4C’s) was formed.
Wendy was also the area representative for AWCC and was closely involved for many years, always pushing the benefits .
Wendy for her ideas and enthusiasm will always be remembered and especially by the members of the Cotswold Cruising Club.
Martin Turner