Award To Long Serving Committee Member At AGM On 23rd February

Many members were present to help shape the future of the sailing club at the AGM held at the Deeside Royal Naval Association Club on 23rd February. During the meeting a sound financial performance and high levels of club activity were reported and the new race format introduced in 2015 was ratified and will continue into 2016. The new committee was elected – Tim Bowden (director & Commodore),  Bill Duffield (director & Treasurer),  John Hargreaves (director & Company Secretary), Mark Heaton (director & Membership Secretary), Tony Forster (director and RYA Training Principal), Ron King (director) and the following were co-opted onto the management committee – Jayne Rowland, Jeremy Cooper, Les Perry, Phil Gallagher & Stuart Hopson (Sailing Secretary).

At this meeting Ron King stood down as Membership Secretary after serving in this role for over 20 years. In that time Ron has done sterling work in administering our membership and in “meeting and greeting” anyone who has set foot inside the compound as prospective members, or even as just visitors. His dedication and friendly, down to earth and welcoming nature have certainly helped in maintaining strong membership numbers over the years and he will be a hard act to follow. At the end of the meeting Tim Bowden (Commodore) presented Ron with an award to recognise this long service and to show the gratitude of the members. Well done Ron.

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Tony Forster

As a founder member of the then British Steel Shotton Sailing Club in 1983 I took part in the first beginners sailing course, in an Optimist believe it or not (quite a feat for someone 6' 4" tall!) and then began to help with further courses. My first dinghy was an Enterprise and much sailing in this and coaching by our first RYA Principal, John Swift, resulted in me gaining the RYA Dinghy Instructor award in 1984. In 1985 I joined the committee and over the years moved through the roles of Club Captain, Vice Commodore and then Commodore a position in which I proudly served for about 25 years. During my tenure as Commodore I saw the club become Corus Colors Sailing Club and then starting around 2004 I helped to steer the club towards independence from the Steelworks Sports & Social Club, the formation of the company and charity Shotwick Lake Sailing and the purchase of the lake and buildings. Although I have frequently raced at the club my main interest has been in the development of the club and ,of course, in the training section. In the early years John Swift, Alan Sourbutts and myself managed to get the club recognised as an RYA Training Centre. Then, some years later, on passing my RYA Senior Instructor qualification I was appointed as the RYA Training Principal, a role which I still perform to this day. Over the years I have sailed Toppers, Mirrors, GP14s, Herons, Lasers, Wayfarers, Wanderers and many others and my seafaring has included sailing a Sailfish 18 and a Leisure 17SL which I still own. Over the years I have witnessed massive changes and developments at the club and have cared passionately about its success and future. I have been truly blessed to have been able to serve such a fantastic organisation and to have made so many friends along the way.