Royal Approval for South Staffordshire Sailing Club
by Karenza Morton, RYA 13 Jul 2014 08:13 BST
11 July 2014
HRH The Princess Royal meets some of the club's junior sailors © Robert Yardley
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal hailed South Staffordshire Sailing Club as "an example" after visiting the club as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations on Friday 11 July.
Her Royal Highness, President of the RYA, paid tribute to the many hundreds of volunteers over the club's lifetime that have played an invaluable part in introducing thousands of people in and around South Staffs and Wolverhampton to sailing.
She spent over 1½ hours at Gailey Reservoir talking to members and volunteers including two of the club's elder statesmen, Rod Jones and Malcolm Timmins, both of whom joined the club on Boxing Day 1954, and eight-year-old sailor Cameron Whittaker, who presented Her Royal Highness with a posy of flowers on departure.
South Staffs SC was named 2011 RYA Club of the Year, for Britain's best sailing club, before winning the Sport and Recreation Alliance 'Premier Award' for Britain's best grassroots sports club a year later.
Both awards recognised the club's role in encouraging participation and providing genuine low cost sailing opportunities for all and the club has not rested on its laurels, continuing to work with many local community groups including Westcroft School and Sports College, a Wolverhampton special school, and Stafford Sea Scouts.
Youngsters from Westcroft and the Sea Scouts, as well as members of South Staffs' thriving junior section plus several of the club's successful racing sailors provided an on-the-water demonstration in a variety of the different boats sailed at the club.
As Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque commemorating South Staffs' Diamond Anniversary and cut a birthday cake, she delivered a stirring appraisal of the club's contribution to the sport of sailing and the local community.
Martin Warburton, South Staffs Club Commodore, said: "Sailing clubs, as with many other sports clubs, only work because of huge amounts of effort from volunteers making sure the facilities and the organisations are as good as they can be. That is what makes a club a success.
"This sport offers so much, including the life skills developed from it. We are very grateful that Her Royal Highness visited South Staffs SC and took so much time to speak to everyone. It was a wonderful morning for the club."
Sue Dutton, a club member of 20 years and Acting Assistant Headteacher at Sherbrook Primary School, a special school in Cannock, brought her class of 11-year-olds to meet Her Royal Highness. The youngsters sail every Friday at the club and the school has been enjoying sailing sessions for eight years.
She said: "Sailing is great for building confidence in the youngsters as it is somewhere they can achieve in a sport that is very inclusive. Academically some may struggle, but here they can sail across the lake, learn teamwork skills and develop gross motor skills. Its gets them active and builds confidence."
Mike Kelly, RYA West Midlands Regional Chairman, added: "South Staffs SC has brought a lot of people into sailing and continues to so do with great success. It is a tremendous honour for the club and region to have welcomed Her Royal Highness today and it shows her commitment to the RYA and to supporting sailing clubs not only in our region but the whole country."
Amongst the other VIP guests included HM Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Mr Ian Dudson CBE CStJ and Mrs Jane Dudson, The High Sheriff of Staffordshire, Mrs Ann Fisher, Chairman of Staffordshire County Council, Mr Ian Lawson and Mrs Kay Lawson, Chairman of South Staffordshire Council Cllr Mrs Janet Johnson and Mrs Kay Bates (Consort) and MP for South Staffordshire, Mr Gavin Williamson.
South Staffs SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. The club has more than 400 members and one of its talented young sailors, Sarah Norbury, is currently in Portugal representing the British Youth Sailing Team at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, the world's premier youth sail racing event.
For more information on how you can get into sailing at South Staffordshire SC visit www.southstaffssailingclub.co.uk