Tom Maccabe
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- Category: About Elie & Earlsferry Sailing Club
- Created on Tuesday, 03 March 2009 00:53
SCOTTISH Volunteers Receive Awards from HRH Princess Royal
HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA, has honoured some of boating’s most outstanding volunteers with 2008 RYA Community and RYA Awards at a ceremony in London. Two Scots were proud recipients of RYA Community awards for Lifetime Commitment after giving many years of invaluable service to their clubs. They are Tom Maccabe, from Elie and Earlsferrry Sailing
Club in Fife, and David Mollison, from the Clyde Cruising Club dinghy section at Bardowie, near Milngavie.
Tom Maccabe was a founding member of Elie and Earlsferry Sailing Club, and has been fully involved with the running of the club over the last 44 years, without a break. A club spokesman paid tribute,”Tom has ensured the continued smooth running of the club and to made sure of its survival in difficult times. Tom is a quiet but very determined man, and gently guides younger and less experienced individuals. He represents the best about EESC and is outstanding in welcoming new members. Tom is the jewel in the club’s crown, without him EESC would not be the friendly successful club it is today.”
David Mollison is one of the best known members of Clyde Cruising Club’s dinghy section at Bardowie. A club spokesman said,”He is the longest serving active club member, joining the club in 1948. David has introduced many individuals, adults and children alike to all aspects of sailing, racing and boat maintenance. No one has made such a high level of sustained contribution to the club. David has been a member for over 60 years; he met his late wife at Bardowie; his family all learned to sail there; he’s served on the committee for the best part of 30 years and has probably spent more hours and days at Bardowie than anyone has done or will do in the future.”
All the Award winners enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the presence of HRH the Princess Royal, and were presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.
The RYA Awards and Community Awards acknowledge the importance of volunteers within the sailing and boating communities. They recognise the outstanding contributions, time, effort and experience individuals have made to making it possible for others to enjoy boating and sailing, from establishing clubs, committee participation, to boat maintenance and training.
Rod Carr Chief Executive of the RYA said: “The work and voluntary time that RYA Community Award and RYA Award winners put into our sport is simply astounding. Without their sheer hard work, commitment, and expertise our sport would be immeasurably poorer. These people are an inspiration to us all and it is my pleasure to recognise and celebrate their work through these awards.”