Robin Evans, the Canal & River Trust’s first, and British Waterway’s last, chief executive has died suddenly after a short illness.
Robin graduated from the University of Reading in 1975 with a degree in estate management.
The early part of his career was spent as a land agent for the National Trust before he joined the Landmark Trust as chief executive where he stayed for eight years.
In 1995 Robin was appointed palaces director at Historic Royal Palaces and in 1999 he joined British Waterways as commercial director, becoming chief executive in 2002.
Alongside chairman Tony Hales, Robin led the work to develop the concept of a new charity for the waterways.
He navigated through various political hurdles to create and launch the Canal & River Trust in July 2012.
We all owe him a debt of gratitude for creating the great organisation we are a part of today.
Richard Parry, Trust chief executive
“His leadership, vision and tenacity was instrumental in this, the culmination of years of painstaking effort and skilful negotiation,” said Richard Parry, current Trust chief executive.
“A year later, in May 2013, he stepped down from his role, having seen the new charity fully established and the long-term future for our canal network secured.”
At the time, Robin stated: “I want pursue other interests and opportunities and now the Trust is firmly established I feel it’s the right time for me to move on and a perfect time for the Trust to have a new leader.”
He continued: “It has been privilege to lead these two great organisations and I am very proud of what we have achieved over the past ten years.”
By securing a 15-year funding deal with government and £500m of endowment property, And he said the Trust was on a more secure financial footing with a more positive outlook than previously.
“Those of us who have joined since 2013 didn’t know Robin, but we all owe him a debt of gratitude for creating the great organisation we are a part of today.”
Richard concluded: “I know many colleagues will be shocked and saddened at Robin’s tragically early death and we will mourn his loss, remembering the vital role he played in the history of the nation’s inland waterways.”
