Volunteers recognised

More from the New Year's Honours list

As well as recognising the astonishing feats of Andrew Pindar and Britain’s gold medal winning sailors achieved in 2008, this year’s New Year’s Honours List also recognised the voluntary contribution given to the sport by two RYA Volunteers.

RYA Thames Valley Chairman Michael Shefras, receives an MBE for ‘voluntry service to boating in the Thames Valley’ after completing 25 years service sitting on various River Thames consultative committees working with organisations including the Environment Agency and British Waterways. Michael is current RYA Regional Thames Valley Chairman and has been involved with the RYA for many years including sitting on RYA Council.

Shefras comments “I am absolutely delighted to receive this it’s such an honour and surprise. You just get on with things and do the work which is rewarding enough without imagining or aiming for anything like being given an MBE.”

He continued “It’s great to be recognised alongside our amazing gold medallists and to see work that goes on in the back ground, as well as, the front end of the sport, being recognised.”

An MBE also went to Peter Haigh a 2004 RYA Community Award winner for ‘voluntary service to sailing in West Yorkshire and the Scouts’. Peter received his RYA Community Award after promoting sailing to young and disabled people through Huddersfiled Scout Sailing for over 30 years.