Arun Yacht Club wished success at jubilee event

Arun Yacht Club has celebrated its Diamond Jubilee with a Gala Dinner Dance.

The event was attended by around 100 people, who enjoyed a dinner followed by dancing to the music of Willie Austen and his band.

Commodores past and present attended the dinner dance, which took place on Saturday, June 25.

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Richard Keith, eldest son of the first Commodore and 1936 Olympic yachtsman, Dr Keith, proposed the toast to the club, to which Stuart Fairweather, the current Commodore, responded by thanking those founder members for their forward thinking vision of a family-friendly, inclusive sailing club. Stuart Fairweather also praised the newly-refurbished clubhouse, confident that tit would further that vision by encouraging a whole new generation of sailors to start on their ‘pathway to sailing’ adventure. Charles Taylor, cadet captain, propsed a toast to all past cadet and junior captains, of which many were present. Some guests travelled from afar as Majorca, Moscow and even Austrailia to come and celebrate this milestone in the Club’s history, and to see old friends and share fond memories. The Sunday Celebration Lunch entertained 140 people with a quartet, and prizes, which were donated by Bowers and Wilkins, were presented to the raffle winners by Littlehampton Mayor, Ian Buckland. He said it was so good to have a club like this at the heart of the town.

Will Harvey, club secretary, said: “We met many old friends and it was great to be back where our children learned to sail. The meal was outstanding and the atmosphere just right. Arun Yacht Club at its best! We would like to thank all involved in today’s lunch party. It was a great occasion, very good food and particularly fun sereing so many “old” sailing friends.

“We thought the clubhouse was looking very smart, having been recently decorated. We wish the club lots of success in the future.”

The Gala Dinner Dance is the latest in a series of Diamond Jubilee celebration events hosted by the Arun Yacht Club.

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This year has also seen a two day Beer Festival in April, which celebrated the club’s inaugural meeting on April 8, 1956, as well as a Celebration Races on the River on April 24, which markied the club’s first race on April 29, 1956, and a Celebration Lunch.

The club has two more events planned to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee year.

On Sunday, July 24, there will be a Combined Dinghy, Cruiser & Cadet Race at 2pm, and on Saturday, November 5, a Hog Roast and Fireworks event will be held at 6.30pm.

Find out more on 01903 716016.

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