‘Irreplaceable’ Roy kept Stour clear for generations to enjoy

Roy Newing’s knowledge and passion for the River Stour, which he nurtured for more than half a century, was legendary in the boating community.

He was a good friend to many on the river, and a thorn in the side of the Environment Agency, which he regularly berated over what he perceived was its lack of maintenance of the waterway.

He created a lovely home from the wreck of an old boathouse at Grove Ferry, near Canterbury, with his wife Irene, where they raised a family, built boats and ran the marina.

And he revelled in taking people up and down the river, between Richborough and Fordwich, engaging them with his knowledge of its nature and history.

But over the last year he had been suffering from a longterm respiratory condition, which was recently followed by a stroke.

He was being cared for at home by his family until his death, aged 81, on March 11.

His passing has been met with huge sadness and sparked many tributes, including from one of his closest friends, Brian Maxted, from Fordwich.

The pair met at secondary school at the former St Dunstan’s Boys, both later becoming members of its Old Boys Association.

“Roy was a good friend of mine and his passing has been

an extremely hard burden for me, “said Brian.

“We have been pretty close as both our wives had to go into homes due to dementia.

“He was an amazing person and will be remembered by all of us in the association for his generosity.

“He hosted our summer reunions in the fascinating surroundings of his boat yard, where we had wonderful evenings in the club house, picnicking on the lawns and enjoying unforgettable river trips either on his motor cruiser or on the barge.

“To say that he will be missed by so many is a huge understatement. So far as the river is concerned, he is irreplaceable.”

Another friend and boat owner, Chris Riddell, says users of the Stour owe Roy a huge debt of gratitude.

“It is difficult to think of the tidal stretch of the River Stour without Roy Newing,” he said.

“Not only was he a lifelong champion of the Public Right

of Navigation, often single-handedly, but he also worked tirelessly to maintain it.

“As well as providing moorings for more than 40 craft, for many years they also ran passenger boats. Roy’s knowledge of the river, boats and boating was legendary, and as an engineer he could turn his hand to anything.”

Roy was a founding member of the Stour Downstream Interests Group, which represents most of the riverside leisure and commercial activities from Sandwich upstream to Fordwich.

Chris added: “The hundreds of people who went afloat on the River Stour during lockdown

last summer may not have known Roy, but they owe him a huge debt of gratitude for ensuring the river is free for all to use.”

Roy’s passion for the waterway was also reflected in the Little Stour and Nailbourne River Management Group.

Its chairman, Martin Twyman, says he began working with Roy following the floods in 2000.

“He was the brains of how the Great Stour worked and crewed our many meetings up and down the stretch from Fordwich to Sandwich,” said Martin.

“He knew from the early 60s what a lovely well-maintained river the Stour then was and he helped the Environment Agency, when possible, with emergency tree work, which is now a regular problem.

“Roy was so knowledgeable, clever, a wonderful engineer and very skilled sailor.

“He knew every inch of the river.

“He will be sorely missed, leaving a large hole for someone to fill, but sadly his knowledge will be lost forever.”

Roy also built a miniature railway track at the boat yard to carry bulky items, which led to the establishment of The Boat House Model Engineering Group

Its secretary, Peter Wilson, said: “As it grew, Roy gained a flock of railway and model engineering friends who helped extend the railway to the three-quarters of a mile it covers today.

“He loved seeing the railway being enjoyed by our group members or visitors, who brought along their own engines and trains to run.

“Year after year, his railway hosted many annual events, including summer barbecues with live music, Christmas lights with Santa and a reindeer, all on a miniature train magical, happy and fun times, which summed up Roy.”

Roy and Irene had two sons and a daughter, but tragically lost one of their boys, John, to leukaemia when he was just 14.

Now, his daughter, Mary, and son Lawrence, who lives at the boat house, hope to keep the boat yard running.

“We have such lovely memories of growing up by the river, and dad also loved taking his four grandchildren out on the boat,” said Mary.

“We are all incredibly saddened because he was a wonderful father and grandfather.

“We haven’t fixed a funeral date yet but it will have to be a small, family gathering because of the current restrictions.”

The hundreds of people who went afloat on the River Stour during lockdown last summer may not have known Roy, but they owe him a huge debt of gratitude

Roy with wife Irene and, right, pictured smiling out on the river he knew so well

Roy Newing enjoying a boat trip with wife Irene and friend Brian Maxted