15th October 2026
We are incredibly saddened to have to announce the death of Jan Warsop.
Jan had been a member of the Trust for over a decade, serving as a Trustee for several years.She was presented with a Distinguished Service Award in 2025. A superb photographer, she made dozens of contributions to our Wildlife Watch newsletters and our Calendars.
She was always ready to get involved with all sorts of activities, but everyone in the Trust associates her with our ex-British Waterways working boat, Python.
She led the campaign to save the boat when it was almost a write-off. She obtained grants from various organisations and her Auntie Wainwright fundraising on eBay is legendary. Once Python had been restored, Jan worked tirelessly to ensure that it earned its keep, eventually setting up the current position whereby Python officially helps the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canal. This work involves large numbers of volunteers, all of whom would vouch for Jan’s meticulous organisation and her insistence that everyone was looked after, including lots of cake.
Jan was well known outside the Trust in many spheres, especially by anyone with a historic boat.
Despite her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments, she was always determined to keep living life to the full, right up to her last days in Ashgate Hospice when she was still messaging people to get arrangements right.
We send our heartfelt condolences to Dave and the rest of her family.
We will publish funeral details here when they are known.
