Welsh volunteer sailors honoured by HRH The Princess Royal
by Hamish Stuart, RYA Cymru-Wales 28 Nov 2015 14:59 GMT
20 November 2015
The Smith and Jones family with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at the RYA Volunteer Awards © RYA
Dedicated volunteers from across Wales had their endeavours recognised by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at the annual RYA Volunteer Awards in London.
There were four award winners from Wales, including a family of six, as a total of 53 awards were bestowed upon volunteers from across the UK recognising their exceptional generosity and dedication to boating.
The awards ceremony and luncheon was held at One Great George Street, Westminster, where each award winner was presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.
RYA Sport Development Manager Duncan Truswell explains: "The RYA Volunteer Awards are our opportunity to say thank you on behalf of clubs and associations that affiliate to the RYA to their volunteers, the people that really make a difference to help people get afloat.
"It's our opportunity to take a bit of time out and say thank you very much for the commitment you guys make to the sport to help people get afloat safely and enjoyably."
The RYA Family Award winners, alias the Smith and Jones family in Bala, were Philip and Carole Smith supported by their son Christopher, his wife Laurel, their daughter Helen and her husband Mark Jones.
"I am proud of the family, they have been working in the sport of sailing for as long as I can remember," said Phillip Smith, who runs an auto repair business in Marchwiel, near Wrexham.
"We were not quite sure what to expect on the day of the awards, but talking to Princess Anne was fantastic, she made everybody feel so much at ease.
"I started sailing in Bala so we carried on after moving to Wrexham. It is a bit of a journey but what you get when you get there, in terms of the beautiful place and the good company, makes it worthwhile."
Pwllheli's Stephen Tudor received the Sailing Club RYA Community Award - Lifetime Commitment. He has been the driving force behind the ambitious development of the Welsh National Sailing Academy in Pwlhelli, playing a key role in seeing the long-term project come to fruition.
"I am happy to take the accolade on behalf the great team of people and organisations who made it all happen in Plas Heli," said Tudor.
"It is an amazing achievement for the sailing club. We opened this summer and hosted six major championships in quick succession with competitors from all over the world. There were 37,000 event nights and it brought £3.2 million into the local economy so the investment was justified.
"Our major ingredient is the waters of Cardigan Bay with no commercial traffic, open water and good sailing, but we needed to get the onshore facilities to match the offshore."
David Sheppard, from the Vale of Glamorgan, received the RYA Award 2015 – Cymru Wales. "It was a great occasion, very well organised," he said.
"My daughter Mari was in Welsh and then British squads so getting involved was a chance for some pay back for all the help she got, also I took her to events so I thought it would be a long day if I did not do something to help.
"I am an accountant so I was nobbled to be the honourary treasurer so I had the chance to get funding and decide how to spend it, that was interesting and entertaining and I felt involved in helping Welsh yachting continuing and helping kids."
For over ten years, David served RYA Cymru Wales in many roles, including Director and Honorary Treasurer, ensuring the association's finances were properly managed, allowing the organisation to prosper and grow during his time on the Board.
Gwyn Phillips, of Neyland Yacht Club, received the RYA Community Award – Outstanding Contribution. "It is not a job for me, it is a hobby," he said.
"The nice thing about it is that you work all the time and people have noticed what you have done and shown they appreciate it.
"Everyone was introduced to Princess Anne, she had a quick chat with everyone and had a question to ask all the 50 plus award winners. It was very enlightening to see."
Over many years, Gwyn has helped support and develop a wide range of activities at Neyland yacht club, having also served on the main committee and many sub-committees in a variety of roles.
For more information about the RYA Volunteer Awards visit www.rya.org.uk/go/RYAVolunteerAwards
For more information about the Volunteer Awards, contact