A very special Clubs' Commodore; the late Lindsay Tosh's final voyage
by Ian Purkis 18 Aug 2025 21:02 BST
Alicat at anchor while members of Lindsay Tosh's family prepare to scatter his ashes and drop their flowers onto the sea; two of the members' flotilla boats nearby © Margaret Purkis
After all the racing was over for another year's Kippford Week and the Kippford RNLI Regatta, a large number of members of both the Solway Yacht Club and Annandale Sailing Club got together in Kippford for a final farewell to Lindsay Tosh.
He was a highly respected and popular member and uniquely had served as Commodore of BOTH in years past. Being highly active in the life of both clubs, on the water, as well as sailing, he'd been Principal Race Officer for many Open and Club events. Off the water he'd served the clubs in various other capacities, providing huge assistance and support to other Flag Officers and Committee members.
It was his final wish to have his ashes scattered onto the sea off Kippford with members of his family and both clubs present, including as many previous Commodores as possible, as well as the two current ones. With three generations of the Tosh family aboard the Solway Yacht Club's big catamaran Alicat a whole flotilla left the Club pontoon in a respectful convoy, several under sail, most motoring out into the bay off Glenn Isle, many more watching from ashore. With Alicat anchored and when family members were ready, Lindsay's ashes were scattered onto a calm sea in glorious summer sunshine. The ashes were followed by sunflowers and roses dropped in by family members, drifting out to sea on the ebb tide.
Back ashore, afternoon tea was served in the Solway Yacht Club's clubhouse so everyone could meet Jacquie, her and Lindsay's daughter Rosslyn, son Murray and all their families.
Farewell to Lindsay, you're greatly missed by everyone and will never be forgotten. Thank you from us all.
Solway Yacht Club (SYC) and Annandale Sailing Club (ASC) Commodores past and present. Left to right, John Broadbent (SYC), Ian Purkis (SYC), Willie Patterson (ASC), Stewart Biggar (SYC), Scott Train (SYC), Robert Dinwiddie (with flag, SYC) Maureen Scott (SYC), Trudie Mitchell (current ASC Commodore), Tony Bamford (ASC), Elaine Ross (ASC), Carol Beattie (ASC), Stephen Hinton Smith (ASC) and Scott McColm (current Commodore SYC) - photo © John Sproat