Social History

Recognising our Social History

This page is in recognition of those that have helped the Club develop over the years.

It may be those that contributed to the original purchase of the lake or the formation of CMYC, to the construction of the Clubhouse, to its maintenance and achieving the many accolades we have, or any contribution you feel should be remembered. Perhaps you would like us to remember someone famous, perhaps even the Olympians that started out with us (see below). 

Please let us know of your recommendations, thank you.

1963

Our club was formed on 23 November 1963 (the day after President Jack Kennedy was assassinated) and we were affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association. This is thanks to Mr Spicer, a keen dinghy owner who formed a committee, with Mr H G Winter as chairman, Mr G E Evans as treasurer and Messer’s G Everett, R Hancock, T Rogerson and P Hayes. Thanks also go to Dr Ashby who decided to sell Hedgecourt Lake to us in 1976 when we were granted a mortgage and became a limited company.

It is their vision that formed the catalyst of the Club we know and love today. You can read more about our history within this website and those that have helped shape our passage below.

2020

Lifetime Achievement Award – Diana T.

As Training Principal and in charge of all training activities. She has kept Saturday Clubs, Cobnor visits and our participation at the annual NSSA Regatta running for many years but has also held various Committee positions. She was elected to our Committee in November 1992 and served for 14 years of which three years as Honorary Secretary and Newsletter Editor for eight years. Since 1998 Diana is our Junior Co-Ordinator and the RYA Principal from 2011. Diana is also on the Sailing, Training & Junior Sub-Committees since 1993.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Donal R.

Donal has been on the Committee for 23 years until November 2019. Two years he served as Honorary Secretary, four years as Commodore and four years as Vice Commodore Sailing. In addition, Donal was on the Sailing, Training and Junior Sub-Committees since 1997. He has also organised many successful Dry Meetings over several years and gave very significant support to our cruising programme.

Outstanding Contribution Awards – Brian D., Geoff M., and Alan T.

Brian’s award reflects not only his high attendance on the cruises but also all the work that he did on the power boats which enabled our cruises to be supported and therefore gave confidence to less experienced sailors.

Geoff has been a stalwart member since 1973 and contributed widely to the Club over the years. In recent years he has taken on responsibility for monitoring water levels at the dam and
controls the water levels as required by the Environment Agency using both the penstock and boards. He was heavily involved in monitoring and managing the exceptional water levels experienced in December 2019 visiting the lake everyday throughout the bad weather. He has been a regular at Tuesday Group for many years.

Alan has been a member of the Tuesday Club for many years and has been heading it up for two years now. He puts an enormous amount of time and effort into making sure that our Hedgecourt estate is always in good nick.

2021

Exceptional Contribution Award – Alan T.

For managing the refurbishment of the changing rooms in 2020. This has been a major project for our little club, and Alan has managed it brilliantly, spending many days and hours on site, managing contractors and making sure that the job gets done.

Exceptional Contribution Award – Jeff S.

In recognition of the very significant time and effort he has put into the support of our racing and training programmes for over 5 years and in particular during the exceptionally difficult circumstances of the pandemic.

Exceptional Contribution Award – Dave C.

For being our Membership Secretary for over seven years. In addition, he has also supported – and still supports – the Tuesday Group.

Significant Contribution Award – Beth C.

For being our Cruising Coordinator for six plus years. Cruising is a valuable part of Crawley Mariners’ programme and Beth has looked after it brilliantly.

2022

Exceptional Contribution Award – Stephen B.

Stephen was elected to Committee at the 2007 AGM and in 2009 took on the Duties Officer role which he has subsequently continued to do. He is A PB Instructor and has also taken on the responsibility for the administration and management of PB maintenance.

Exceptional Contribution Award – Matt K.

Matt was elected to Committee at the 2018 AGM as Secretary. As well carrying out this role he has taken on many other aspects of the club’s wider responsibilities. One of the key requirements arising from being a SSSI is having a Management Plan – Matt put in a very significant amount of time drafting this and negotiating with Natural England and the Environment Agency; plus, consulting with Surrey Wildlife and South East Rivers Trust to bring it to fruition. In addition, he took on the management of Open Water Swimming requirements which has given rise to unexpected issues with the control of water quality, again involving significant time commitment. As members you will be aware that he has also focussed on the need to keep you fully informed, as borne out by the regular emails that you receive.

Exceptional Contribution Award – Philip C.

Philip was elected to Committee at the 2018 AGM as Treasurer and served through to November 2022. He officially stood down at the AGM in 2021 but continued in the role whilst a replacement was sought. In April 2022 a volunteer came forward and worked with Philip until taking responsibility for the routine aspects from November. Philip continued in a support role by preparing the Interim Report for the EGM in April and working with the new Treasurer in the Annual Accounts process, with our Accountants, from the end of December through to mid- March.

Significant Contribution Award – Richard W.

Richard became qualified to be able to teach navigation courses and now runs a Day Skipper Theory course each winter. He actively promotes yacht cruising in the Club and has organised trips at home and abroad enabling members to gain practical experience – this being of particular benefit to those members wishing to take part in the club’s annual flotilla holiday. In addition, he took on the organisation of the one for 2023.

He promoted and managed the very successful ‘Taverna’ social event and consequently has taken on the organisation and publicity of an enhanced ‘De- hibernation Day’.

Significant Contribution Award – Nick W.

Nick has been much involved in the development of our Oppi sailors at Saturday Clubs and Junior Helm week, ensuring that from their first experience in a boat they have an enjoyable and fun time whilst gaining confidence and sailing ability.

He also took on the organisation of the club’s participation, as Team Manager, in the National Schools Sailing Regatta.

Significant Contribution Award – Peter F.

Attends almost every week, gets involved in all jobs – if significant projects are in progress arrives early to get everything ready. Carries out lot of preparation work at home including sourcing of materials. Built Tern platforms and erected anti – bird enclosure on the M of K.

Significant Contribution Award – Don G.

Attends most weeks, is mainly the gardener and landscaper man but assists with all other jobs. Constructed and planted out the Oppi feature and is gradually improving our garden areas with new planting. Also spends time sourcing plants and materials.

Significant Contribution Award – Bob W.

A long-term member who has been involved in almost all aspects of the work carried out by the group. A major undertaking, as a part of our estate management plan, was a tree survey, which as well as the survey itself it involved making and affixing 150 numbers; plus documenting the results.

Significant Contribution Award – Brian D.

Brian is another mainstay of the group, attending almost every week and contributing to all the work being done. He has spent much time in the lake working on the dam and tree clearing on the north bank; together with much help on the gardening side with strimming and grass cutting.

Contribution awards – Alison & Geoff L., Robert H., Stuart E.

Alison has taken over the administration of Junior Saturday Clubs from Jeff and runs groups on the water; plus has significant involvement with JHW week.

Geoff has worked extensively with the Feva sailors honing their skills. Both consistently help on RYA courses – Geoff as an SI – and Cobnor.

Robert is always willingly on hand at Junior Saturday Clubs to help whenever needed; helming powerboats, assisting sailing beginners and Stuart with Feva maintenance.

Stuart has put in much time and effort getting the club’s four Fevas back to full racing trim. He has encouraged other sailors and parents in the Feva group to attend racing and training elsewhere. His enthusiasm and hands on help at events has been very much appreciated – in particular, his invaluable support at the last West Sussex Regatta.

2023

Lifetime Achievement – Michael T.

Michael joined the Crawley Mariners as a committee member in 1991 and has since held nearly every position within the organisation, including roles on the main Committee, the Sailing Sub-committee, and the Training & Junior Sub-committees. He first became Commodore in 1994, playing a pivotal role in the clubhouse building project. He served as Commodore again in 2000 and from 2004 to 2006. 

Since becoming a qualified Dinghy Instructor in 1999, he has trained hundreds of sailors across the RYA Level 1 & 2, Saturday Clubs and the many events held at and away from the club.

With over 30 years of dedicated support to the Crawley Mariners and its members, Michael’s contributions are invaluable.

Exceptional Contribution – Steve D.

As the Club’s lead on dam management, Steve diligently monitors and records water levels in compliance with the Reservoirs Act. He is responsible for managing the water levels through the penstock valve and represents the club at the annual dam inspection conducted by a registered dam engineer. His expertise and dedication are invaluable to the club. Steve plays a vital role in maintaining the septic tank, ensuring its levels are checked weekly and organizing its emptying by contractors.

In addition to these responsibilities, Steve has been maintaining our trailers for several years, ensuring they are roadworthy and ready to transport dinghies to external events. This often-overlooked task is crucial to our operations, and we are deeply grateful for Steve’s ongoing contributions.

Significant Contribution – Simon L.

Simon has been instrumental in setting up the club kayaking, firstly organising kayaking sessions, which proved popular and led to Simon purchasing kayaks on behalf of the club. He now leads and coaches weekly sessions.

Significant Contribution – Allan P.

For over 20 years, Allan created & updated the Crawley Mariners website and created the first computerised membership database in 2000. Alongside providing invaluable IT support, Allan became a dinghy instructor and helped run many Junior Helm Weeks.

Junior Sub-Committee Special Award: Robin Ballam Trophy – Sarah & Martyn F.

Since joining the club with their daughter in 2018, Sarah & Martyn have been ever present at Junior Saturday Clubs and Junior Helm Weeks, whether on-shore or on the water. In more recent years, they have been helping at the NSSA and WSSYSA Regattas where Crawley Mariners has sent teams. 

RYA Lifetime Commitment Award – Donal R.

Donal joined Crawley Mariners Yacht Club in 1985 and has served as Commodore, Honorary Secretary and Sailing Secretary. He was involved in the training programme at the club, initially as an Instructor and then as a Senior Instructor, Advanced Instructor and Level 2 Race Coach. He initiated a Junior Bursary Scheme to assist parents whose children were becoming dinghy instructors or developing their sailing outside of the club.

As a long-standing lead on the development of junior sailors he was a key member of the management team for the club’s two annual residential weekends for youngsters. He attended almost all of them and his contribution was wide-ranging, from towing boats to developing the youngsters’ skills in spinnaker handling and trapezing technique. In addition, he took on the planning and day-to-day management of the club’s Junior Activity Week for three years.

Donal has organised monthly social meetings, researching and engaging speakers, and continues to serve on the sub-committees. Currently he is also Cruising Co-ordinator. His enthusiasm continues, and he always steps up to help both the club and his fellow members.

Olympic Medalists

Two GBR Olympians started sailing at Crawley Mariners:

Helena Lucas

British sailing’s golden girl, Helena Lucas made history claiming 2.4mR Paralympic gold at London 2012, becoming the first ever female winner of the male dominated Paralympic class and Britain’s first ever Paralympic sailing gold medallist. She went on to win Bronze in Rio making her Britain’s most successful Paralympic sailor.

Helena, who was born with no thumbs and limited extension in her arms, is in the unusual position of having done both Olympic and Paralympic campaigns. Having sailed 470s since 1997 she moved into the Paralympic 2.4mR in 2003 before making her Paralympic Games debut at Beijing 2008. She then went on to win Gold in London and Bronze in Rio.
Helena is now focusing her career to motivate and inspire others through coaching, motivational speaking, and team building to be the best they can.

Simon Hiscocks

Simon Hiscocks sailed a variety of boats before being recruited by Ian Barker to join him for selection for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Together they won a place on the Olympic team only by the narrowest of margins. After a slow start to their campaign on Rushcutters Bay they put together a consistently good run of performances in the second half of the event to claim a silver medal. Following Sydney the pair went their separate ways and Hiscocks teamed up with Chris Draper.

The duo won the silver medal at the 2002 World Championship and then went one position better to claim the gold in 2003. The Athens Olympics turned into a three way duel between Spain, Ukraine and Great Britain for the gold with the British boat just edged into third place, Hiscocks added a second world title in 2006 but missed out on selection for the Beijing Games. He then began to compete in bigger boats and is a member of the crew of the prospective Spanish America’s Cup team.