Trevor Pavitt was born in London and educated at boarding
schools in Sussex and Hertfordshire. After National Service in
the Royal Artillery he joined the family paint and brush business
and later formed his own company: Darius Arts Limited. He and
Mary, a State Registered Nurse, were married in 1961. They have
two sons, Mark and Dan.
Having conceived the idea of living on a narrow boat in the early
1990s they commissioned Wolverhampton-based boat builder Dave
Elwell to construct a 60 ft traditional-style narrow boat for
them. The finished steel shell was brought south to the High Line
moorings at Iver where Trevor spent three years fitting her out
to the highest standards. When he retired from business he and
Mary sold their London home and moved on board as full time
residential boaters. During the years that followed they explored
many of the canals and rivers of England.
By 2005, advancing years and a feeling that they had achieved all
that they had set out to do triggered their reluctant decision to
move back onto dry land. They now live in the Shropshire village
of Clun in the Welsh Marches.