Ray Brind passed away over Christmas
Ray Brind, who was heavily involved in the preparations for the last IWA Trailboat Rally on the Grand Western Canal at the Mid Devon Showground and a previous WBOC get together on the canal, sadly passed away over Christmas. And sadly, his trusty dog Jessie also passed away on the day before.
The Mid-Devon Gazette published the following account:
“A man described as a “legend in his own right” for the 20 dedicated years of providing horse-drawn barge trips at Tiverton’s Grand Western Canal has lost his brave battle against lung cancer at the age of 65.
Ray Brind, who ran the Horseboat Company with his wife Pat on the canal from 1985 to 2005, died on December 27. But he will be fondly remembered by the many people who knew and loved him.
His trusty companion Jessie, a 15-year-old border collie renowned for riding barge-horse Prince and for never leaving Ray’s side, died of a stroke on Boxing Day.
Ray’s son Phil, who took over the business with his wife Jacquie in 2005, said the eternally “happy person” will be a sad loss to the Grand Western Canal, Mid Devon and to everyone who met him.
Phil said: “He is going to be such a loss due to his lifetime experience of canals and, as he used to know so many people, he will be sorely missed.”
The WBOC sends its sincere condolences to his wife Pat, and his family at this sad time.
