Trevor Baylis 1937 - 2018

‘Achievement is more important than qualification’ - Trevor Baylis

As a regular at the ‘Eelpiland’ jazz club, Trevor Baylis had fallen for the decadent charm of Eel Pie Island long before he had made enough money (as an underwater escapologist in the Berlin Circus) to buy a plot of land there and build his dream house in the 1970s. A professional swimmer, stuntman and circus performer, Trevor had also studied mechanical and structural engineering in his spare time.



The home he built for himself was a bachelors paradise that saw its fair share of raucous parties! Aptly named ‘The Haven’, it featured an indoor swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, impressive workshop housing his ‘boys toys’… and a miniscule kitchen!

Having witnessed life-changing accidents amongst his circus friends, Trevor was already inventing a range of products to assist the disabled. A 1991 television program highlighting how lack of access to information was contributing to the devastating spread of AIDS in Africa, lead him straight to his in-house workshop to come up with a solution. 

The result was the ‘Clockwork Radio’, powered simply by winding it up. The world of information and entertainment available from tuning into a radio became available to thousands without electricity or money for batteries. The radio proved to be life changing for many, including many employees at the BayGen factory. Set up in South Africa in 1995, 30% of its workforce consisted of disabled and disadvantaged people. Describing seeing the factory signage for the first time, Trevor said ‘It was just an ordinary sign, but I was prouder of it than anything. I looked at it through a smear of weeping and wished that my dear old mum and dad could have lived to see that their guileless faith in me had been justified’

The invention made Trevor rather famous, which, as a born showman he lapped up; TV and radio appearances were aplenty, including a regular slot on C4’s ‘The Big Breakfast’, and he was a very popular ‘After Dinner Speaker’. He received an OBE in 1997 and CBE in 2015, was holder of two Guinness World Records and winner of countless awards. He met many influential people including Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana, who gave him the pith helmet that he regularly wore with great pride.

Trevor’s last public engagement was opening the Eel Pie Island Museum on 23rd February 2018. He passed away at home on 5th March, having taken every opportunity to spend time in the museum chatting to delighted visitors.

‘Trevor was a great supporter of the Eel Pie Island Museum, behind me all the way, spurring me on as we encountered endless hurdles trying to get the project off the ground. He even accompanied me to City Hall when I went to pitch for funding from the Mayor of London. We were delighted to have him cutting the ribbon at our opening night. I would have been heartbroken if he hadn’t got to see it after all the support he gave to me.’ 

- Michele Whitby

Read about Trevor on Wikipedia or watch him on the Big Breakfast Show.