Lincoln Sailor Honoured By HRH The Princess Royal
by Karenza Morton.
Date: 24 November 2013
Lincoln sailor, Richard Grace, was presented with one of the RYA’s (Royal Yachting Association) most prestigious awards - an RYA Lifetime Commitment Award - by HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA, on Thursday (21 November).
Richard, recognised for work with the Lincoln and District Sailing Association, was one of 43 award winners, hailing from as far afield as Cornwall to Argyll, honoured at the annual RYA Volunteer Awards ceremony at London’s One Great George Street.
The Lincoln Minster School teacher first learnt to sail in 1997 when he was asked if he would take over the running of the school's sailing club, which sailed at Hykeham Sailing Club as part of the LDSA.
He has since given 17 years’ exemplary voluntary service to LDSA in his various roles as Treasurer, Chief Powerboat Instructor and Chief Safety Boat Officer. He gives up hours of his own time to enable others to sail and is always around, teaching students to rig dinghies, exerting a quiet discipline, encouraging, transporting young children to venues and making sure they are properly equipped.
Shocked
Richard admits he was shocked when he discovered he had won the award.
He said: “I feel extremely honoured and humbled. Sailing has given me the chance to expand my ability to involve more children and adults in a sport. I already teach a variety of sports and I see children who are not particularly interested in team sports such as rugby, football, cricket or hockey taking part in and often excelling in sailing.
“Sailing helps people to work together. We run a regatta once a year and it is open to all schools within Lincolnshire. Some of the competitors are extremely good sailors whilst others may be as young as Year 4. Every year experienced sailors from a school helping younger sailors and not necessarily even from their own school. The sailing courses we run also demonstrate a similar degree of people coming together to learn and helping each other through.
“I get tremendous satisfaction helping raise funds through running courses and being involved with tremendously enthusiastic members who work hard to make LDSA a success. The last thing on my mind was an award for doing something I enjoy.”
Richard was nominated for the award by LDSA and selected as a winner by the Awards panel. He and his fellow RYA Award winners enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the presence of HRH the Princess Royal, and were presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.
Sarah Treseder, RYA Chief Executive says “The RYA is delighted to make this award in recognition of Richard’s enthusiasm, promotion of our sport and many years’ contribution to the region’s boating scene. The winners are an inspiration to us all and it is my pleasure to recognise and celebrate their hard work and dedication.”
INFO
For more information about the RYA Volunteer Awards visit rya.org.uk or
to find out more about boating in Lincolnshire visit:
www.rya.org.uk/regions/eastmidlands
