Chris Westwood: A Life Dedicated to Sailing and Public Service
Chris Westwood, a devoted civil servant and passionate sailing enthusiast, has died at the age of 82. His life was marked by an unwavering love for the water, where he excelled as a sailor, teacher, and advocate for inclusivity in the sport.
Early Passion for Sailing and Teaching
Westwood's sailing journey began in a homemade Mirror dinghy, where he quickly became skilled at reclaiming and racing dinghies on the River Medway in Kent. His expertise and enthusiasm for mastering sailing techniques did not go unnoticed. From 1975, while working as a civil servant, he taught evening classes funded by the Inner London Education Authority at the Deptford Sailing Centre in south London for a decade.
His commitment to sailing extended beyond personal enjoyment. Westwood was an active member of numerous sailing clubs along the River Thames and Medway. He served as a dinghy captain and secretary at the Greenwich Yacht Club, where he met his future wife in 1988. Notably, he supported disabled individuals, helping them sail on the tideway, and later became a committee member at the Erith Yacht Club.
Career in Civil Service and Transport
Born in Pembury, Kent, to Maude (nee Peppiatt), a journalist, and Lindsey Westwood, a lab technician at Guy's Hospital dental department, Chris attended Chislehurst and Sidcup grammar school after the Second World War. He briefly studied economics and English at Sheffield University in 1962 but left to pursue other interests, including journalism for the student union.
In 1966, Westwood joined the library of the Ministry of Transport, beginning a long career in public service. After a stint at the Department of Environment, he returned to Transport, where he worked on special load routes, HGV licensing, transport tribunals, and liaised with trade unions and international counterparts. His sharp intellect and pragmatism led him to the Highways Agency (now National Highways), where he managed key road schemes for London, including improvements to the A12 and A13, and the ultimately abandoned East London River Crossing project.
Personal Life and Legacy
Chris Westwood married in 2018 and embraced early retirement at age 52 in 1995, during the civil service downsizing planned under Margaret Thatcher, which allowed him more time for sailing. He was known for his love of racing, despite claiming not to be competitive, and enjoyed cruising along England's east coast. A supportive figure, he encouraged female friends to build careers and pursue sailing, challenging the misogyny prevalent in the sport at the time.
Outside of sailing, Westwood enjoyed reading, gardening, jazz, and was an avid collector of marine paintings, books, and ephemera. In his later years, he faced multiple health issues but maintained a determined and independent spirit, famously refusing treatments that would extend his life at the cost of his autonomy.
He is survived by his wife, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to both public service and the sailing community.
