The South Devon Railway is saddened to report that Ted Parrott died at 8.00pm on Saturday 12th January 2019 in Rowcroft Hospice. Ted had been diagnosed with terminal cancer towards the end of 2018.

To describe Ted as a towering figure in the affairs of the South Devon Railway is an understatement. He had been interested in and involved with railways in Devon long before the scheme to preserve what is now the SDR was a gleam in anyone’s eye, and having come up through the ranks became vice-Chair of the SDR Association in 1997, and took over as Chair in 2000. He finally retired from the post in 2014, but remained very active across the railway, and especially at Totnes.

He is a huge loss to everyone involved with the South Devon Railway, and will be very greatly missed. The South Devon Railway sends deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife Lesley and all of his family. We have lost a very great friend.

The photo shows Ted as many will remember him, performing one of his favourite roles on the railway: helping children and families on their way to see Santa in December 2013.

Ted’s death will be part of the South Devon Railway Association’s forthcoming Management Committee Meeting.

Ted’s funeral was on Friday 1st February 2019 at 12 noon, at Torquay Crematorium, Hele Road, Torquay.