Community spirit

The Royal Yachting Association present their own equivalent of MBEs

Seen as sailing's very own MBEs the RYA Community Awards recognise and applaud the vital contribution made by individuals working at the grass roots of the sport. This is the first year of the RYA Community Awards and the association are delighted to make 38 awards to people who have contributed in more than one way to their sailing community and reflect the diversity and character of the sport. The 2002 Award winners are:

Services to Training

Name From
Roger Alexander Macclesfield
Catherine Ashurst Isle of Man
Brian Ashworth Bolton
Dennis Aston Somerset
Eric Bowman Worcestershire
Josie Coward Brixham
Simon Cray Northants
Peggy Dorothy Southampton
James Farrell Co. Antrim
David Futers Northumberland
Margaret Hyde Fareham
Bert May Hayes, Middlesex
John Noble Southampton
Norman Parr Nottinghamshire
Norman Stevens Leeds
Martyn Styles Sandwich, Kent
Roger & Jenny Wilson Lymington
Tricia Wood Derby
Ken Wright Buxton, Derbyshire

Services to Racing

Donald & Brenda Andrews Keighley
John Best Lee-on-Solent
Ron Burdon Somerset
Derek Crouch Kent
Jim Gates Slough, Buckinghamshire
Bob Jones Weston-super-mare
Graham Knox Cheshire
Derek Lee Hope Valley, Derbyshire
Paul Lee (Posthumous Award) London
Margaret Morris Derbyshire
John Reeve Hove, Sussex

Services to Club

Michael Bradley Walsall
Steve Cole Isle of Wight
June Curtis Surrey
Pam Donald Isle of Wight
Peter Knight Axbridge, Somerset
Shirley & Geoff Ritchens Chippenham, Wiltshire
Fred Ternan Co. Fermanagh
Jim Warrington Newport, S. Wales

Rod Carr, the RYA's Chief Executive expressed his appreciation of this year's award winners: "The RYA Community Award winners are essentially ambassadors for the thousands of people whose continual contribution makes the sport of sailing great to be a part of. I look forward to meeting them all at the special awards presentation"

The Awards will be presented by RYA Chairman George Clark in London in the autumn, where they will also have an opportunity to meet the RYA's President, HRH The Princess Royal.