on the water
Island Life - June/July 2010
Photo: Left - The Lord Lieutenant and Mrs Martin White. The High Sheriff, Mr. Peter Kingston. Mrs Brian Mead, Mr.
Brian Mead, Chairman of the Island Support Group. Bo'sun Kirsten Mackay on John Laing and Mark Todd, Skipper
50 years of adventure
under sail
‘FOR some the challenge will be standing
sailing clubs. Also Gill Ellis, widow of Chris
on a wave-swept foredeck doing a headsail
Ellis, co-founder of the Ocean Youth Club
change: for others it might be cooking for 18
(the original name of the OYT) and their
people and discovering if you want mashed
daughter Emma Laird. During the reception,
potatoes it helps to boil the potatoes first.”
Emma explained: “The OYC was founded
Mark Todd, Operations Manager of Ocean
which suggested ways that statutory and
at a lunch at the Royal London Yacht Club,
voluntary bodies could work together to
hosted by the Island Support Group to the
counter what was perceived as a growing
OYT to celebrate 50 years of adventure under
“youth problem”.
sail. Guests were shown round OYT South’s
“My father had already been taking groups
sail training vessel, the John Laing, dressed
of young people to sea on his own boat and
overall and moored off the club.
knew it had a very powerful positive effect
Honoured guests were the Lord Lieutenant
80
in the wake of the 1960 Albermarle Report
Youth Trust South (OYT South) was speaking
on their self-esteem and confidence. The
Martin White and his wife; The High Sheriff,
Report gave him the impetus to formalise his
Peter Kingston and his wife; the Commodore
work and create a sort of youth club on the
of The Royal London Yacht Club as well
water, where young people could have fun
as commodores of several other yacht and
sailing the boats in summer and refit them in
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