South Staffs SC sailors receive prestigious awards from HRH the Princess Royal

 

South Staffordshire Sailing Club had triple cause for celebration as three of its members received prestigious Royal Yachting Association awards from HRH The Princess Royal, President of the RYA, at the organisation’s annual awards ceremony at London’s One Great George Street on Wednesday 23 November.

 

John Edwards, South Staffs SC Honorary Treasurer, was awarded with a Lifetime Commitment Award. Meanwhile, clubmate Mike Warbrick received an Outstanding Contribution Award, for his exceptional dedication to developing the club’s buoyant junior racing section, and Chris Cook was awarded a Youth Award, having first attended the club as part of a group from Westcroft Special School four years ago. 

Pictured with HRH (left to right) Chris Cook, John Edwards and Mike Warbrick (photography courtesy of RYA)

All three were nominated for their awards by South Staffs SC, which is the RYA’s reigning Club of the Year, and selected as winners by the Awards panel for their work. A total of 48 voluntary awards were presented to winners hailing from across the UK from as far afield as Hayling Island and Loch Tummel, Scotland.

 

John has been a member at South Staffs SC since the Sixties, and having first got involved with the club management in 1972 has held every office in the club bar secretary. He has overseen several major projects, including buying land and renovating the clubhouse, and been a major driving force behind the club’s success.

 

Mike is the club’s first link for juniors who, with his encouragement and coaching, get to a level where the club’s racing instructors take over to turn them into dinghy racers of the future. The club’s young sailors have enjoyed significant success on the international stage and none of this would be possible without Mike’s input.

 

Chris, 20, is an inspirational member, who having enjoyed all the activities he took part in with his school, began volunteering in his own time to help out in any way possible. He is a very proficient safety boat driver, a superb sailor and dedicates an extraordinary amount of time as a willing volunteer to help in any activity at the club.

 

John said: “I did not expect that my 25th year as SSSC treasurer would be marked by an award from the RYA. This gives me enormous pride both personally and on behalf of the club. As one of the club’s first sailing instructors and race trainers, I am proud of the enormous contribution that the RYA training programmes have made to the success of the club. The progression of the club in recent years, culminating in the 2011 RYA Club of the Year Award, has given me great satisfaction.”

 

Mike said: “Winning this award means a great deal, and confirms that the time we spend teaching youngsters and adults to sail is well worth the effort. It is a pleasure to be involved with young people and their transition to confident adults, and be part of a healthy vibrant club. Learning to dinghy sail is a balancing act in an unfamiliar environment. Its physically active, and the reward is for perseverance. Getting it right feels really good.”

 

Chris said: “Sailing has changed me from being someone with behavioural problems to a responsible young man. To now be able to help and teach special needs kids through Westcroft, as well as helping and teaching SSSC club members and lots of different people, is really pleasing. Sailing is very sociable. You get to meet and talk to lots of different people and to go to lots of different places."

 

Club commodore Neil Hawkins added: "We are delighted that three of our members have been recognised with RYA Volunteer Awards. Only 48 awards have been made for the whole of Great Britain so for three of those winners to come from one club is an extraordinary achievement."

 

John, Mike, Chris and the other RYA Award winners enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, and were presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.

  

Sarah Treseder, RYA Chief Executive said: “The RYA is delighted to make these RYA Volunteer Awards in recognition of John, Mike and Chris’ enthusiasm, promotion of our sport and many years’ contribution to the region’s sailing scene. All 48 RYA winners are an inspiration to us all and it is my pleasure to recognise and celebrate their sheer hard work and commitment through these awards.”

 

To see video footage of, and interviews with, your sailors at the ceremony click here

 

For more information about sailing in the West Midlands visit www.rya.org.uk/regions/westmidlands

 

For more information:

Karenza Morton

RYA West Midlands Regional Communicator

Tel: 07837 707630

Email: press@tenpointstick.co.uk

www.rya.org.uk