A loyal servant of Morecambe Winter Gardens and legend of the motorcycling and diving community has died at the age of 87.
Ted Tandy passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning after a well-lived life of activity in which he loved to help other people.
Ted was known locally as the founder and former chairman of the Morecambe Bay Classic Bike Club and was a huge motorbiking enthusiast.
He also set up the restoration and maintenance team at the Winter Gardens theatre in Morecambe and worked tirelessly on renovations inside the grand old building during his later years.
An ex-Royal Marine, Ted once appeared on This is Your Life on ITV as a surprise guest of his former Marines colleague and ex-Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown, who he helped to train.
He also loved underwater diving and at the tender age of 80 became a PADI open water qualified diver at Capernwray.
Photo by Adam Hanlon.
Ted took part in many charity events throughout his life, many involving extraordinary challenges - such as riding his bike and sidecar from Morecambe to John O'Groats then back to Morecambe then to Land's End and back again over several days; and the time he climbed a mountain with a washing machine on his back!
Jackie, Ted's daughter, said: "He was always doing something.
"He raised lots of money for charity. He loved helping people. That was in his nature."
Ted was born in Bath in 1935.
As a young man he joined the Special Boat Service (SBS), the Royal Navy's answer to the SAS, serving with 42 Commando.
During his career with the Royal Marines he travelled to Malta, Singapore and Burma.
He married his wife Shirl in Malta, and they went on to have two children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Jackie said her dad was a long-time lover of classic bikes, and the family would often travel to rallies to show off his collection.
A keen canoeist who also taught canoeing to youngsters, Ted twice won the annual 125-mile DW Canoe Race from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster Bridge in London in the 1960s.
After leaving the Royal Marines in 1965, he worked as a carpenter then an engineer before retiring.
This photo of Ted was posted by Morecambe Bay Classic Bike Club.
Remaining active, he ran the London Marathon at the age of 60 and took part in the DW Canoe Race again at the age of 61, beating many younger competitors.
In later life, Ted and Shirl moved to Heysham and lived on Woodlands Drive for 22 years.
"He wanted to be by the sea and he needed a garage for his bikes!" said Jackie.
Having set up a classic bike club in his native Bath, Ted did the same once he moved up here, founding the Morecambe Bay Classic Bike Club - meeting at the Commodore Club in Heysham.
He was also hugely admired at Capernwray Diving Centre, where a boat 'The Ted Tandy' was named after him!
Ted became involved at the Winter Gardens after organising a showing of classic bikes at the theatre, with the help of Morecambe's TT motorcycling legend John McGuinness.
He went on to organise many fundraising rides for the theatre, with his beloved dog Shem riding alongside him in his sidecar.
After his wife Shirl passed away two years ago, Ted moved back down to Bath in 2022 to live with his family.
He returned briefly to Morecambe last summer when he was one of the team of volunteers who met the future King Charles III during his tour of the theatre.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, chair of the Winter Gardens Preservation Trust, said there will be a round of applause in Ted's memory when the theatre opens for the new season this weekend.
"Ted had a zest for life and a passion for adventures and new things," said Professor Toulmin.
"His dedication to the theatre included setting up the restoration and maintenance team raising money through his Saturday book stall and organising classic bike rallies.
"Two years ago I was his sidekick in a hair raising ride around the South Lakes.
"I loved Ted, his dedication to the theatre will continue to inspire but I will miss his cheekiness, his wilful spirit, but most of all just Ted.
"RIP you old sea dog, we will miss you."
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