Business Speakers - 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, Trevors 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 Tomorrows World TV programme. The products 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 Trevors 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 BBCs 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 JamesPalace 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
