It was with great sadness that I learnt of Spud Rowsells death yesterday. He hasnt been well for a few years now, but somehow he seemed indestructible. His spirit had kept him positive and active for as long as he could, but eventually his time came.
I am so sorry to break the news to those of you who haven’t heard it. I am sure many more tributes will come, and some anecdotes – there are so many.
We will miss him.
Our thoughts go to Jan and his children, Guy, Becki, Frank and Stephanie. As well as his many, many friends in the Merlin Rocket family.
Pat Blake

Spud was a man who lived life to the full and in doing so gave us some wonderful works of Merlin Rocket art and some fearsome competition on the water. I will remember him with great respect and affection, not least because he gave a budding designer the opportunity to have his brainchilds built by a master craftsman.