RYA Volunteer Awards 2022

The club again had success at the RYA Volunteer awards. With Charles Ferrar getting RYA Community Award for Lifetime Commitment and Adrian Jones RYA Community Award for Outstanding Contribution. They both travelled to London to receive their awards from HRH The Princess Royal, President of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), in recognition of their dedication to the sport. They enjoyed meeting the other recipients, and had a lunch and a celebratory glass of wine.

Why a prestigious national award?

Charles Ferrar has been an active member of Notts County Sailing Club since 2002 and received a RYA Community Award for Lifetime Commitment. Qualifying as a RYA Senior Instructor a year after joining, he has given many hours of his time teaching and was the club’s Training Principal from 2013 until November 2021.

Having led numerous Assistant Instructor courses over the years, many young people who Charles taught are now fully qualified instructors themselves and contributing to the continued success of the club. His role has also seen him running taster sessions for local community groups, and developing a five-year plan which is now the blueprint for the future of training at the club.

In nominating Charles for the award, the club said: “Charles continues to assist the training section as a Senior Instructor on many of the club’s RYA training courses. His enthusiasm, especially when teaching newcomers, is infectious. He encourages and inspires instructors to deliver their best, and always has a smile on his face.”

Adrian Jones, was presented with a RYA Community Award for Outstanding Contribution, having served on the club’s executive committee for six years as Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore and Commodore, with the club thriving under his leadership. Along with the Treasurer he introduced the online ‘Sailing Club Manager’ database and duty system. Adrian is an RYA Dinghy Instructor, and he recently became the club’s Chief Powerboat Instructor. As a busy hospital consultant, he also contributes as a First Aid instructor.

In its citation for the award, the club said: “Adrian has used his considerable talents and devoted a great deal of time to the benefit of the club. He is a very patient instructor and enthuses not only the people he is teaching but also the junior instructors he takes under his wing.”

Adrian grew up in Southampton but only learned to sail after moving to Nottingham and taking a course at the club after hearing about it from a friend: “We were made to feel very welcome and I just loved it, so I carried on from there and did my instructor tickets. I find it completely de-stressing to be out on the water and also really enjoy teaching, particularly children and people my age. I teach junior doctors at work and at the club it’s great to see people who think they can’t possibly sail, take the tiller for five minutes and realise they can do it.”

Congratulations from all at the club very well deserved.

Photos: From top to bottom:
Adrian receiving his award.
Charles receiving his award.
Charles teaching the adult course this autumn.
Adrain teaching a powerboat course earlier this year.