Rotary name in glass window on new Boathouse for Sailing Charity
Waveney Sailability, a charity founded in 2005 to mark the centenary of Rotary International has just opened its own “Rotary Boathouse”.
Based at Oulton Broad near Lowestoft in Suffolk the Charity was set up by five Rotary clubs on the Norfolk/Suffolk border to provide sailing for the disabled using specially adapted “Access” class dinghies. Starting in August 2005 with three boats, all sponsored by Rotary clubs, Waveney Sailability now has a fleet of 12 dinghies, two safety boats, and a recovery system, and a road trailer. For the first few years winter storage was provided by local Rotarians but on the 26th May 2009 a new £40,000 Rotary Boathouse was formally opened by pioneering yachtsman Geoff Holt, the first quadriplegic to sail single handed around Great Britain.
Lowestoft was one of the ports of call during his epic journey and when he sailed into the harbour in 2007 the Chairman and Secretary of Waveney Sailability, Rotarians Richard Morling and Kevin Taylor, and some of the disabled sailors from the Charity met him. The recent visit was an opportunity to meet those same people and over 130 guests and members who had gathered to celebrate the opening of the new storage and maintenance facility. Although the replacement cost would be in the region of £40,000 the charity has only spent £24,500 as various materials and some of the labour was provided free of charge by local and national companies.
The Rev Helen Jary dedicated the stained glass window of the Rotary logo to the late Don Ross, a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Lowestoft South. Don was a keen sailor, a past President of the South club and served on the original steering committee. His widow Lorna and Elaine Holt, the wife of Geoff Holt, were presented with flower arrangements.
Various Rotarians including the District Governor, representatives of local and national firms and charities who had made contributions in cash or kind, to the building appeal, attended the event. Geoff Holt, who is also a Rotarian, unveiled a notice board showing the names of supporters and spoke about his own sailing experiences and the need for even more RYA Sailability centres in the UK. The photograph shows: Geoff Holt (foreground) and from left, Shaun Read, Rotary Club of Lowestoft South, Geoff Knights, Vice President of Yarmouth Rotary, Peter Harris District Governor, Bob Catchpole, President of Gorleston Rotary, Clive Robinson of East point Rotary and John Raven of Beccles Rotary.
David Collins – Director and treasurer
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