Tributes paid to former BSAC Chairman and pioneering diving author, Kendall McDonald

Former BSAC Chairman and journalist Kendall McDonald has sadly passed away aged 87 following a long illness.

Kendall, a prolific and renowned author who penned several key diving and wreck books as well as writing for BSAC’s magazines, including Neptune and Diver, where he worked as their Wreck Consultant. It was thought that he was the famous Beachcomber in Diver Magazine but never proved.

A founding member of Bromley SAC, Kendall learnt to dive in the early 1950s and served as BSAC Chairman between 1975 and 1977 before being awarded honorary life vice presidency. He also played a key role in organising the second World Congress of Underwater Activities in London in 1963.

A former managing editor of the London Evening News, Kendall was a passionate exponent of branch promotion, working as BSAC’s Press Officer and encouraging BSAC clubs in their own promotion of UK diving. He regularly promoted diving in the national Press, writing and presenting Britain’s first TV series about diving and was one of the first journalists to dive on the wreck of the Mary Rose in Hampshire’s Solent.

Kendall also edited the first BSAC book – The Underwater Book – featuring BSAC divers’ stories, including accounts from Alexander McKee and his successful search for the Mary Rose and Derek Cockbill on the salvaging of the Maine.

In 2009 Kendall was awarded BSAC’s Colin McLeod Award for his significant contribution to diving publications. In the same year he was elected into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.

Over the years Kendall amassed a significant collection of diving books and publications, many of them now rare items. In 2013 he donated his collection to the British Sub-Aqua Club, where they have pride of place in BSAC HQ in the Kendall McDonald Library.

BSAC’s Chief Executive, Mary Tetley, paid tribute to the former BSAC Chairman.

“I worked with Kendall when we were on Diver Magazine together. He was an amazing storyteller and an awesome larger than life character and I would listen to him for hours. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to his family – Kendall was one of our pioneering divers and wreck authors and he will be sorely missed.”

Kendall McDonald’s funeral will be held at All Saints Church, Thurlestone on Friday 24 January at 3pm. Instead of flowers there will be a collection on behalf of Cancer Research, Devon Air Ambulance and the MS Society.

For more details please email maryt@bsac.com.