Bob Telford – RIP

Sadly, former member Bob Telford passed away during last week. Members of the club that have been around a few years will remember Bob who owned Gloria before selling her to Nick Donaldson. Bob moved onto a bigger traditional boat and kept it in Faversham Creek. Our condolences go out to Bob’s wife Judy and his family.

The following was posted on the Faversham Creek Trust Facebook page:

We are very sad to report the death of our friend and ex-Trustee Bob Telford, who died this week. Bob was a descendant of the great Thomas Telford who straightened the course of Faversham Creek in the 1820s, and was himself a production engineer & systems analyst, having worked for Marconi, Lotus and DeLorean, and Contessa Yachts. He kept his boat Idle Duck at Iron Wharf, and was always willing to share his extensive knowledge about the creek, the bridge, the sluices, water quality and matters maritime. He was a generous, kindly and social man, and a great supporter of the boat-building project at the Purifier Building. Five years ago, it was his idea that St Ayles skiffs might be built here, so often to be seen now on Faversham and Oare creeks.
He helped arrange for dredging licences, and as our Chairman Philippa Dickinson says, “He did a good thing late last year in writing to Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester as well as to Helen Whately to encourage them to work together regarding Peel Ports; he also introduced me to Peter Norris, now Chair of the Medway and Swale Boating Association, so that the Trust could continue the relationship with the MSBA that Bob had held for so many years. The MSBA keep a close eye on Peel’s activities at Chatham and on the Medway and involve Kelly Tolhurst who is the MSBA’s president“.
We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Judy.