HRH The Princess Royal awards boating's unsung heroes

RYA Volunteer Award winners 2014 © RYA

Dedicated volunteers from across the UK had their endeavours recognised by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at the annual RYA Volunteer Awards in London last week (Friday 21 November).

Some 47 winners were honoured for their exceptional generosity and dedication to boating at the awards ceremony and exclusive luncheon held at One Great George Street, Westminster, where they were presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.

RYA Sport Development Manager Duncan Truswell explains: "The RYA Volunteer Awards are all about celebrating the commitment of the countless volunteers who do fantastic work to support our sport. These people are the lifeblood of our sport, they keep our sailing clubs, events and our organisations thriving and make it possible for others to get out on the water."

The RYA Volunteer Awards were divided into four categories: the RYA Awards, RYA Community Awards, Francis Elkin Award and the RYA Family Award.

The winners of the RYA Awards were Tony Saltonstall, Josie Gentry, Howard Nelson, Robert Russell (OBE) and David Williams, recognising their individual commitment and service to boating and to the RYA at a regional or national level.

The Community Awards, consisting of Lifetime Commitment, Outstanding Contribution and Youth categories, were presented to winners nominated by their sailing clubs and class associations and selected by the RYA Awards Panel for their contributions to grassroots sailing at club level. HRH The Princess Royal presented a total of 22 Lifetime Commitment Awards, 11 Outstanding Contribution Awards and three Youth Awards.

In the youth category recognising volunteering carried out by young people, one winner Callum Mitchell from Oxford Sailing Club said: "At my club I've done quite a lot of work with youth sailing. I had no idea I'd been nominated and I enjoy being part of the sailing club so much that to be recognised in this way is fantastic".

Judi Figgures (MBE) was awarded the 2014 Francis Elkin Award recognising her lifetime of hard work which has inspired and enabled thousands of people with disabilities to get out on the water.

The family award is presented to a family group who are deserving of recognition for the impact they have made, both as individuals and collectively, and was awarded to the Gambrill Family: Geoff, Celia and their daughter Jo. All are members of Hampton Pier Yacht Club.

"When I found out about the award I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't realise that this award existed! Once it sank in I realised that I felt very honoured to be chosen both as an individual and as part of my family" said Jo.

Duncan Truswell concluded: "This event was about saying thank you to every one of these inspirational volunteers for their sheer hard work and commitment not only on behalf of the RYA but also on behalf of the people they help to get afloat week in week out."

Nominations for the 2015 RYA Volunteer Awards will be invited from January. More information about the awards can be found here.