Repower Remembers Anthony Woolhouse

On behalf of the members and committee of REPOWERBalcombe, I wish to express sadness upon learning of the passing in August of Anthony Woolhouse. Anthony served on REPOWER Balcombe’s committees as a director for about 5 years until 2023 when failing health led to him stepping down.

Anthony provided invaluable support and know how to our committee. Although not local to Balcombe, although his son lives in the village, Anthony lent us his considerable experience as a pioneer in the UK community energy sector.

Anthony founded West Solent Solar Co-op along with Cathy Cook and Jonathan Blease in 2013. Its first and principal project was to construct a 2.4 MW solar farm near Lymington in Hampshire.  This was one of the earliest solar farms in the UK to be wholly community owned. Anthony served as Chair of the co-op from 2013 to 2021, overseeing the project’s launch, many years of clean energy generation, and a flourishing of plant life in the 12-acre site (which had been a former gravel pit and then landfill area).

He had a great insight into community  energy and an eye for details including helping us understand the accounts! 

When REPOWER Balcombe was involved in the solar traction project Riding Sunbeams, Anthony provided for the village summer fete a model railway powered by a small solar panel to illustrate the scheme. 

Anthony will remain in the memory and affections of REPOWER Balcombe and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. On setting up West Solent Solar, Anthony said

“hopefully this project will outlast us. I have grandchildren and I hope that they inherit what we have created here. I hope the children of other people who joined the co-op will inherit what we have created. It’s for future generations that we are doing this”.

His lasting work will remain as a tribute to his vision and dedication.

Julian Wilkins

Acting Chair REPOWER Balcombe