Tributes

Ian Woollett
 

Ian Woollett, a former President of the Sentinel Drivers Club, died at the age of 92 on May 22nd. Ian is best known as being the owner of Sentinel SD4 No. 8448, which he owned for some 64 years. He will be greatly missed in the steam world.

A few words in tribute to Ian Woollett - a superb engineer and a great loss, by John Smith

Many will know Ian from his long term ownership of a shaft drive Sentinel steam lorry and the remarkable restoration of both the Ruston steam navvy and steam tug "Barking". Perhaps not so well known was his first steam road vehicle the Foden tractor, shown in the attached photo taken in September 1951. This regularly attended early TE rallies, sometimes taking part in a tug-of-war contest with the similar Foden "Mighty Atom".

Ian met my father at an RLS meeting and subsequently helped him drive the newly purchased Garrett showman's tractor to its new home near Maidenhead. The engine had been bought from Jesse Vines and faced the long journey from the Gloucester area. 

Much of Ian's career was spent overseas working on major civil engineering projects, notably in Nigeria. His cine films revealed the enormous scale of some of these undertakings. It was while in Africa that Ian carried out extensive work on a steam tug that unfortunately had to be left behind when he returned to the UK.

Henry Stevens

15th July 1943 - 10th July 2019

Henry Stevens passed away on the 10^th July at the age of 75

Henry Charles Stevens was born on the 15^th July 1943 at home in Horseshoe Lane, Garston.

From school Henry work for Watford Refrigeration company, based in Wiggenhall Road and ended up working his whole working life with them until he retired at 59.

In 1963 Henry met Barbara in a dance hall. They later got married on the 5^th March 1966 at St Thomas’s Church in West Hyde and had two sons Barry and David.

When the boys grew up Henry and Barbara got very much involved in the Chiltern Traction Engine Club along with the Burnham Steam and Historic Machinery Club.

Henry loved going on the rallies and having use of one of the traction engines along with attending all the talks and going on the many outings, which Barry is following this tradition with his own family.

St John’s Ambulance was also a huge part of Henry’s life he joined many years ago and over the years progressed to the fellowship and also a member of the Maple Lodge conservation society

Henry loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them having fun. He was a wonderful grandad, a family man and friend through and through and will be greatly missed.