Tribute paid after founder of Lancaster's Water Sculptures firm passes away

The founder of Water Sculptures, Byll Elliot, has passed away at the age of 85.
Byll Elliot.Byll Elliot.
Byll Elliot.

A proud Scotsman, Byll was a great character with a good sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye who, despite living in the Lancaster area for most of his adult life, never lost his Scottish burr.

Byll first started working with water in the 1950s in Glasgow with Jimmy Currie (Currie’s Water Effects), who built waterfalls and fountains for stage productions.

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Shortly after joining the ‘water firm’ however, he was called up to do his National Service and joined the parachute regiment.

He then joined a touring circus and travelled around Scotland in charge of 10 men and two elephants who assisted in putting up the king poles for the Big Top every three days.

Byll then went back to work with Jimmy Currie, and travelled extensively creating major waterfalls at the Lido in Paris, Stardust in Vegas, World Trade Fair in New York and tropical extravaganzas in South Africa, as well as a canal system running through a Beirut Casino.

Summer seasons and pantomimes in the UK were the firm’s bread and butter though, and whilst running the fountains in Lowestoft he met his wife Maureen, an Australian soprano, who was playing a leading part in the show - she soon played a leading part in his life too, as they married 62 years ago and had five children, Jamie, Louise, Julia, Alasdair and William.

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When Jimmy closed his business, Byll and a close friend set up Lancaster Radio Taxis.

However, he was often contacted by theatre and event producers asking for advice on ‘theatrical plumbing’ and, realising there was a gap in the market, he set up Water Sculptures 48 years ago – initially from the cellars of the family home in Meadowside, before moving to St George's Quay and subsequently Morecambe.

Three of his five children continue to run the business.

Byll and Maureen - known as Mo - loved their regular driving holidays in France, and in his later years Byll rediscovered a love of gardening too.

He was also president of Lancaster Red Rose Amateur Operatic Society, where Maureen has been an active member for more than 60 years.

Byll will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

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