Empty spaces Doc and Cindy English

With the passing of Cindy English, the tethered hydroplane community has lost its last link with one of the great characters the sport has known, Dr Michael English, known affectionately to one and all as 'Doc', and to close friends as 'sarge', from his service in the armed forces. His godson John Doughty used to assist him in the running of the boats and Doc built him a 5cc boat which was called 'Mr Jones' after Doc's great friend and fellow competitor Jimmy Jones. Recently John contacted OTW and it was with great pleasure that we were able to meet up with him at St Albans and find out more about Doc and Cindy English. Although based in Sheffield, Doc was an active member of the Cotswold Club, based at South Cerney in Gloucestershire and Vice President of The Model Hydroplane Club. When he retired his campervan could usually be found at most hydroplane events round the country making many friends along the way. Amongst the trophies awarded annually at the St Albans International is the magnificent Doc English Trophy. Following his death in 1987 the tethered hydroplane community subscribed to its purchase in his memory.


Jimmy Jones, W Halligan, Alec Graham and Doc	Jim Williams starts Doc's A class boat at South Cerney	The 30cc cc boat at full speed after launching


Doc & Jim Williams at Cerney with 5cc 'Mr Jones'	Doc with 30cc boat	John Doughty launches 'Mr Jones'	70th birthday

Tom Clement was close friends with 'Doc' and Cindy and has put together the following tribute to them.

Cynthia known as Cindy passed away on the 4^th April 2009 in hospital. She was married to Doctor (Doc) English MD. Doc. died in 1987. I first met them at Birkenhead in the latter half of the 1960’s; Doc was from Eire & was working as a General Practitioner in Sheffield. Cindy was a Yorkshire lass. Doc enjoyed running hydroplanes as a complete break & relaxation from his full time job. Cindy was his helper at the regattas & often her hands were covered in fuel when Doc was washing his engines out after a run. I became a close friend of Doc & Cindy often travelling to the hydro conferences & Hydro Club AGM’s with them. The driving was always shared Doc doing the town driving & Cindy the main road driving. Cindy learned to drive so that she could act as Doc’s driver when he was called out in the early hours; Doc liked a drink of beer & preferred not to drive after drinking in the evening after work. In the years before the breathalyser he would share a party 7 can of beer with those at the regattas. He had a very dry sense of humour & I have a number if remembrances of him in 1976 when the International Event was moved to South Cerney because of lack of water at St Albans, I had attended the St Albans straight running event at Welwyn Garden City on the Sunday & stayed with relatives in South London travelling from there to Cerney. At that time I had not driven from Cerney to Newcastle. Doc offered to guide me to the M1 which I was glad to accept, I was also offered overnight accommodation, this I declined to accept as I was due at work the next morning, the acceptance was made just before the M1. I was in no state to have made the rest of the trip on my own. Doc offered me a doctor’s note saying that he had seen my runs. On another time at Birkenhead his boat stopped unexpectedly & a voice from the bank asked " Doc what happened" Doc’s reply was "IT STOPPED".

Cindy was a match & at St Albans when everyone was having problems starting their engines, a member of the public was pestering Cindy as to why they were not starting, she came out with the statement that "It was all to do with the barometric pressure & humidity" she was not bothered again.

When Doc died she gave me his 30cc boat to run as my own. She continued to attend regattas until her eyesight prevented her from seeing the boats running. She had diabetes & eventually became blind. I had sailed Doc’s 15cc boat on her behalf until she stopped attending, when she gave it to me. This I have rebuilt this winter as it broke up at Hull last October. I did not tell her as by this time she had dementia. She suffered for over two years & was being looked after by her elder sister Jean. Cindy’s doctor & the Social Services had to move her into a care home in December 2008 for her sister’s health. From there she was admitted to hospital & passed away. I had always called on her & her sister in Worksop whenever I travelled South to events & meetings. I shall continue to call on Jean on these trips.

Many thanks to Jim Free, Rob Bamford, Tom Clement for photo's and to Cindy's sister Jean for the loan of her photo album


30cc boat and Doc English Trophy	30cc awaiting restoration	30cc motor


John Doughty & Cindy English with the Doc English Trophy	Newly rebuilt 15cc boat	B class motor built by Doc and now run by Tom Clement