8 April 2026

Emrhys had a long and distinguished career at sea, as a journalist and as part of the British marine industry. He was a pioneer in electric boating and exploring and writing about UK rivers and canals and waterways in Norway, Holland, France, Italy (Venice), East and West Germany and the USA/Canada.

He studied naval architecture in Newcastle and Sunderland. He qualified as a merchant ship deck officer and worked on bulk carriers across the Atlantic and into the Great Lakes.

Joining Derek Kelsall Multihulls, he progressed to Project Manager and was involved in the construction of significant Round the World sailing vessels, possibly including Great Britain II skippered by Chay Blyth.

He joined Motor Boat and Yachting as a technical journalist and boat tester. At the same time he experimented with electric propulsion on a small day boat on the River Wey.

Moving to the Isle of Wight, he took on the role of Yard Manager at Groves and Guttridge in Cowes and was responsible for new builds and providing support to Admirals Cup competitors, Cowes Week participants and offshore racing power boats entered in the Cowes to Torquay International Power Boat Races. The role of a yard supervisor involved working at Berthon Boat Co at Lymington.

Returning to journalism, he became the joint founder and editor of Motor Boats Monthly. They brought a fresh approach to testing and reporting on motor boats at a time of significant growth in the Industry.

With his wife, Linda, he then set up The Thames Electric Launch Company based in Goring on Thames. The company was a pioneer in fitting pure electric and hybrid electric propulsion systems into existing private and new boats including patrol boats for The National Rivers Authority and The Broads Authority and a promotional canal boat for British Waterways with installations developed with Ian Rutter.

They were always keen to show the benefits of electric propulsion though record attempts including supporting the Countess of Arran’s World Electric Water Speed Events in “AN STRADAG” and 100 + miles non-stop in 24 hours on the River Thames . TELCO were also UK Agents for boats built by DUFFY in California (USA) and by Interboat in Holland. They exhibited at The Earls Court London International Boat Show, the IWA Waterways Festivals, the Beale Park Boat Shows and various Electric Boat Association events.

Emrhys continued as a journalist to contribute to superyacht and other boating publications. He became the Founding Editor of CANALBOAT MAGAZINE and led its development in testing Canal Boats and writing about the waterways in the UK and abroad including the first hire boat holidays on the Venice Lagoon and the Mecklenburg Lakes in what was East Germany.

The Thames Electric Launch Company won trophies at The Thames Traditional Boat Festival and continued to be a leading installer of electric drive systems right up to 2026.

Emrhys was also a volunteer Vice President of  The Suffolk River Stour Trust. Telco serviced their 21ft FROLIC electric launches which offered skippered day thrips on the River Stour from Constable's Flatford Mill which were major Fundraisers for the Trust. Telco installed an electric drive system into a restored River Stour working barge based in Sudbury Suffolk.  He arranged publicity and events for the Trust and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds of environmental funding to pay for new lock gates and re-construction works to re-open Stratford St Mary and Dedham Wide Beam Barge locks to allow navigation.

Emrhys and Linda purchased a classic V8 Triumph Stag car and developed a keen interest in classic cars. They were very active in the Kennet Valley TR Club and have participated in and led groups of cars on trips in the UK and to Switzerland and particularly to Normandy and Bordeaux in France. Their own collection now includes other brands.

Emrhys successfully battled a number of medical issues over the years while at the same time carrying forward his business, journalism, volunteering and car club activities.
He will always be remembered for finishing his phone calls with the words of a journalist “KEEP IN TOUCH”. Life will be less interesting and rich without his leadership, but his many friends and customers will keep in touch with his wife Linda and each other.

Funeral Details

Thursday 16 April 2026 at 11.30am at West Berkshire Crematorium, Bath Road, Thatcham, Berks RG19 4DL.
Donations to Cancer Research via AB Walker Funeral Directors of Reading.