Timothy West

[Gustywinds]

So sorry to hear of the death of the great actor Timothy West .
Apart from his acting he was a huge canal enthusiast and one of the drivers behind the restoration of the Paddle Steamer Waverley
His series, with his wife Prunella Scales, ‘Great Canal Journeys” was the inspiration for us getting into canal boating, particularly the episode on Canal Du Midi. This ultimately led to the journey we are now on.
My wife met them professionally a couple of times and they were delightful company.
Pru, who has severe dementia now, will be lost without him, the love between them was very apparent in the series.

Timothy West: Acclaimed stage and screen actor dies aged 90

 

[Mister E]

That is sad and unexpected by me.
Condolences to his family.

 

[petem]

So sorry to hear of the death of the great actor Timothy West .
Apart from his acting he was a huge canal enthusiast and one of the drivers behind the restoration of the Paddle Steamer Waverley
His series, with his wife Prunella Scales, ‘Great Canal Journeys” was the inspiration for us getting into canal boating, particularly the episode on Canal Du Midi. This ultimately led to the journey we are now on.
My wife met them professionally a couple of times and they were delightful company.
Pru, who has severe dementia now, will be lost without him, the love between them was very apparent in the series.

Timothy West: Acclaimed stage and screen actor dies aged 90

He seemed to be a lovely bloke (not that I'd let him drive my boat)!

RIP

 

[Gustywinds]

He seemed to be a lovely bloke (not that I'd let him drive my boat)!

RIP

Bugger!!!

 

[rafiki_]

He seemed to be a lovely bloke (not that I'd let him drive my boat)!

RIP

Yes, he made a boating career of crashing into anything.

 

[oldgit]

Do recall some carping from our "boating" community regards Tims boating skills and also those of Timothy Spall, but both took on some challenging trips with humour and a sense of proportion.
Also gave some respite on TV from the sparkly dresses and the mind dulling tedium of people you never ever want to meet cooking in a tent somewhere.

 

[Poignard]

Whenever a boat-handling manoeuvre of mine didn't quite go as planned, I can guarantee there would always be somebody watching.

Imagine doing it knowing millions are going to witness your disgrace!

 

[James jameson]

I’m sure Tim West’s “crashes” were just for TV bearing in mind everything was steel and canal boating seems much more of a contact sport than plastic boating. Imagine a lot of plastic boaters putting their boats in to locks that are a few feet wider than the boat,
.
As for Tim Spall. He took a barge that wasn’t really designed but the job around the UK and that’s far more than most people will ever do. And appeared a very honest account of the real world that a lot of people would be in should they take on navigating and entering ports they have never been to before or probably will again.

Hats off and great respect to both of them

 

[Gustywinds]

I’m sure Tim West’s “crashes” were just for TV bearing in mind everything was steel and canal boating seems much more of a contact sport than plastic boating. Imagine a lot of plastic boaters putting their boats in to locks that are a few feet wider than the boat,
.
As for Tim Spall. He took a barge that wasn’t really designed but the job around the UK and that’s far more than most people will ever do. And appeared a very honest account of the real world that a lot of people would be in should they take on navigating and entering ports they have never been to before or probably will again.

Hats off and great respect to both of them

First time we were on Canal du Midi we hired the smaller British type canal boat from the same company Tim and Pru used. We spoke with a couple of people who were using the big one and they were very difficult with wheel rather than tiller steering, a relatively small rudder and massive momentum due to the weight. Meant you always got put in locks first though!

 

[Poignard]

First time we were on Canal du Midi we hired the smaller British type canal boat from the same company Tim and Pru used. We spoke with a couple of people who were using the big one and they were very difficult with wheel rather than tiller steering, a relatively small rudder and massive momentum due to the weight. Meant you always got put in locks first though!

Which hire company was that?

 

[Gustywinds]

Which hire company was that?

Minervois Cruisers based in Le Somail. Owned by Napton Narrowboats of Southam. Closed the French operation as a result of Brexit and COVID