Awards for dedicated volunteers from RYA North East region

Four dedicated club members from the RYA North East region were recognised for their exceptional generosity and commitment to the sport in this year’s RYA Volunteer Awards.

Long-standing volunteers and commited youngsters from across the UK were invited to attend a glittering ceremony at One Great George Street in Westminster, London, to receive their awards from HRH The Princess Royal, President of the Royal Yachting Association.

The annual presentations included RYA Community Awards for services to boating at club or grassroots level across three categories - Lifetime Commitment, Outstanding Contribution and Young Volunteer - and among those honoured were David White and George Panter from Ulley SC, John Knopp from Catterick Garrison SC and Thornton Steward SC, and Tony Dalton from Yorkshire Dales SC.

David White, Ulley SC: Lifetime Commitment Award

David, a retired telecoms engineer, aged 81, joined Ulley SC in 1991 and has been the club’s bosun for nearly 25 years and still races an Enterprise dinghy. A former Commodore, his role as bosun includes maintaining the building, grounds, equipment and boats. When the dam burst in 2007 and Ulley SC was closed for three years, he was instrumental in getting the club back up and running. David also volunteers with RYA courses and youth training and shares his know-how with a team of assistant bosuns.

In nominating him for the award, the club noted in its citation: “As the smiling, welcoming face of Ulley SC, Dave is always the first to show new members ‘the Ulley way’. His work ethic inspires everyone to play a part and each member of this very diverse club has found a friend in him.”

David said: “I volunteer at Ulley SC because it’s such a lovely, friendly club. When you become a member, you become a member of a family, and all my friends are there so it’s a pleasure to help out.”

George Panter, Ulley SC: Young Volunteer Award

George is a 22-year-old engineering apprentice from Rotherham, who at Ulley SC gives his time as a powerboat, dinghy and youth sailing instructor, and as an assistant bosun uses his practical skills to look after the club tractor, boats and engines. He is also the club’s Sailing Secretary and was instrumental opening up the club when Covid restrictions allowed, setting up a booking system and developing a new website.

He said: “The club has a really friendly atmosphere and I enjoy using my engineering skills as an assistant bosun, while on the instructor side it’s nice to see people having fun on the water and progressing from not being able to really sail at all, to within a few days having the basics to take out a boat on their own.”

In its citation the club summed up: “George is an approachable, helpful and very practical person who does everything with a smile. He is an excellent role model to younger members; every club needs a George!”

John Knopp, Catterick Garrison SC & Thornton Steward SC: Lifetime Commitment Award

John grew up sailing in Portsmouth and was a Sea Scout, then continued his love of the sport throughout his career in the Army, including becoming Secretary for the Army Sailing Association Germany and Principal of the British Roermond Sailing Club. He gained his first instructor ticket in 1976 with the Army and over the last 25 years has volunteered his time at Catterick as the Chief Instructor and assisting at Thornton Steward, building and maintaining the relationship between the two clubs, which through Catterick’s membership of TSSC, use the same water, club house, facilities and fleet.

As an RYA Senior Instructor, First Aider and Powerboat Instructor and Assessor, John has trained countless members of both clubs, and now aged 73, is still volunteering. He said: “I’m very proud to have received an award but I just enjoy doing it. It’s hard work and as I get older it’s getting harder but I love seeing people learning to sail and in particular enjoy helping children learn to sail. I do a lot of work with youngsters at both clubs, particularly in the holidays, and when a nervous nine-year-old goes out on the water and suddenly realises it’s quite exciting and fun, that’s really satisfying.”

John has also been an RYA Powerboat Trainer and RYA Cruising Instructor, and in its nomination of John for the RYA Volunteer Award, the club said in its citation: “John has given 25 years of absolute dedication to members of Catterick Garrison Sailing Club and unstinting support to Thornton Steward Sailing Club.” Describing John as “an outstanding role model with boundless energy”, the club added that in addition to supporting training he had developed junior instructors, coaching them to improve their skills, and used his wealth of knowledge, experience and connections to support charitable requests to buy new equipment and maintain the existing fleet, often assisting bosuns with maintenance when not instructing.

Tony Dalton, Yorkshire Dales SC: Outstanding Contribution

Yorkshire Dales SC nominated Tony in recognition of his volunteering across many aspects of club life and following the unprecedented demands presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. The club said in its citation: “Always positive and constructive, Tony has earned enormous respect from the committee and other members. He has increasingly contributed to the club’s development with his wise judgement, thorough and meticulous approach and amazing work ethic.”

Tony, aged 59, a retired director, joined Yorkshire Dales SC 10 years ago with his family after learning to sail on holiday and was soon helping with safety boat duties and maintaining the club’s powerboats. Joining the committee, he also became the club’s bosun and was instrumental in sorting out the heating and water systems, putting new buoys on the water and installing a weather station. In 2020 he then took on the role of Covid Officer, interpreting ever-changing Government guidelines and ensuring the club had the signage, procedures and protective equipment for it to open up activities when it was possible and safe to do so for members. Lockdowns also saw the refurbishment of the changing rooms.

Tony said: “We’re blessed to have such a great sailing club so close to hand. The facilities are superb - including the clubhouse, boat park, equipment and training fleet - and the club has a great atmosphere. I just think volunteering is about putting something back into the club and it’s not just me, there is a small army of people who all help at Yorkshire Dales SC. There are many people who’ve done lots over the years - keeping the club running is a real team effort!”

Find out more

The RYA Volunteer Awards recognise the vital contribution to boating made by volunteers across the country. Rob Clark, RYA Director of Sport Development said: “2021 has been another challenging year for sailing organisations with outdoor activity restarting and restrictions slowly lifting. More than ever, volunteers are the backbone of our clubs and the wider boating community, and every single award winner has made an impact by sacrificing their time and expertise so others can enjoy being on the water. It’s a pleasure to recognise their achievements.”

A round up of the RYA Volunteer Awards ceremony and video can be found here. To read about all of this year’s winners visit the awards citation booklet.