TREVOR
BAYLIS OBE
TREVOR BAYLIS
OBE
At the age
of 15 Trevor
was swimming
for Britain
and at 16
he joined
the Soil Mechanics
Laboratory
in Southall
where part-time
day release
enabled him
to study mechanical
and structural
engineering
at the local
technical
college.
At 20 years
of age he
began his
National Service
as a physical
training instructor,
during which
time he swam
for the Army
and Imperial
Services.
Upon leaving
the army in
1961, Trevor
joined Purley
Pools as a
salesman where
his role progressed
to take in
research and
development.
Because Trevor
was a swimmer
he was soon
asked to demonstrate
swimming in
the pools
which led
to Trevor
becoming a
professional
swimmer, stunt
man and entertainer.
He went on
to start his
own aquatic
display company
using a large,
glass sided
tank in which
he dived from
great heights
and swam underwater
demonstrating
equipment.
This company
was called
Shotline Displays.
In 1985 Trevor
invented and
developed
a range of
products for
the disabled
called Orange
Aids.
In 1991,
Trevor’s
gift for invention
came into
its own when,
after seeing
a programme
about the
spread of
AIDS in Africa,
he set about
developing
the Wind Up
Radio. His
first working
prototype
ran for 14
minutes and
in 1994 was
featured on
the highly
rated Tomorrow’s
World TV programme.
The product’s
potential
was immediately
recognised
by corporate
finance expert
Christopher
Staines and
South African
entrepreneur
Rory Stear
who together
acquired funding
and, the following
year, set
up BayGen
Power Industries
in Cape Town
employing
disabled workers
to manufacture
the Freeplay
Wind Up Radio.
The BBC programme
QED filmed
and broadcast
an award winning
documentary
about Trevor’s
development
of the radio
and in June
1996 the Freeplay
radio was
awarded the
BBC Design
Award for
Best Product
and Best Design.
1996 also
saw Trevor
meet Her Majesty
The Queen
and Nelson
Mandela at
a state banquet;
journey to
Africa with
the Dutch
Television
Service for
a programme
documenting
his life and
take part
in the BBC’s
update of
the QED programme
“The
Clockwork
Radio”,
broadcast
in September
1996.
In 1997,
the new generation
Freeplay radio
rolled off
the production
line in South
Africa. Smaller
and lighter
than the original
model, the
new radio
has been designed
especially
for the Western
consumer market
and runs for
up to an hour
after only
20 seconds
winding. This
radio has
now been updated
to include
a solar panel
and will run
without assistance
whilst the
sun shines.
1997 saw Trevor
take part
in a Sky TV
programme
“Beyond
2000”
featuring
his inventions.
He was awarded
the Presidential
Gold Medal
by the Institution
of Mechanical
Engineers
and addressed
the Conference
of Commonwealth
Ministers
in Botswana
for the British
Council where
he demonstrated
the use of
the radio
to power up
a computer
for the first
time. He also
had a regular
slot on the
Big Breakfast
Show
October 1997,
Trevor was
awarded the
OBE by The
Princess Royal
at Buckingham
Palace for
services to
Africa, and
he featured
in an edition
of “This
Is Your Life”.
In May 1998
Trevor toured
African States,
lecturing
for the British
Council and
was very well
received.
He visited
and lectured
in Ethiopia,
Tanzania,
Malawi, Zambia,
Zimbabwe,
Malta, and
Crete. Following
this success
the British
Council then
arranged a
tour of Australia,
Cyprus, Slovenia
and India
and in 2000,
tours to Jerusalem
and Bahrain.
In June he
completed
a 100 mile
walk across
the Namib
Desert to
raise money
for the Mines
Advisory Group
whilst demonstrating
his new invention
the “Electric
Shoes”.
Trevor has
made over
100 TV interviews
and appearances.
A 30 minute
CNN documentary
on the Freeplay
organisation
has been completed
and a news
item on his
latest invention
the “Electric
Shoes”,
as well as
50 radio programmes
here and overseas
talking about
his radio
and the proposed
Academy of
Invention.
He also appeared
in a Mercury
‘One
to One’
advert alongside
his hero Frank
Whittle the
inventor of
the jet engine,
which was
very well
received.
Trevor continues
his tireless
work to promote
the concept
of ‘personal
power’,
as well as
his campaign
to establish
an Academy
of Invention.
His biography
entitled “Clock
This”
has been on
the best-seller
list.
Trevor has
been awarded
the following
honours:
The Paul
Harris Fellowship
- Rotary Club
Master of
Science, University
of East Anglia
Honorary Fellowship
Award, The
University
of Wales Institute
Doctor of
Technology
(Honoris Causa)
The Nottingham
Trent University
Master of
Brunel University
(Honoris Causa)
Doctor of
Technology
(Honoris Causa),
Southampton
Institute
Visiting Professor,
University
of Buckinghamshire
Master of
Science, Teeside
University
Honorary Research
Fellowship
from the School
of Journalism
at Cardiff
University
Honorary Fellow
University
of Wolverhampton
Presentation
of the Gold
Standard Awards
on behalf
of The Duke
of Edinburgh
for His Highness’
Award Scheme
at St James’Palace
on 08 12 99
Recipient
of the Export
Times Exporter
of the Year
award for
outstanding
export achievement.
2000 Guiness
Book of Records
Elected Pipe
Smoker of
the Year 1999
Honorary Member
of the Confederation
of British
Industries
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