Prince presents Les with maritime honour

MARITIME Volunteer Service founder trustee and Bexhill resident Les Quilty has been awarded a special signed certificate of thanks from the charity's patron HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

Les played a key role in setting up the MVS in 1994 and helped guide it at national level for more than a decade in a number of senior positions, reaching the rank of Volunteer Commander.

His contribution was recognised at the MVS's recent national conference in Llandudno where he was presented with the royal certificate and also a plaque from the membership of the MVS.

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While Les has stepped down as a trustee and senior manager, he continues to serve the organisation he was instrumental in setting up as East Sussex' principal lecturer in navigation and seamanship.

Head of Unit Hugh Gallagher said: "We are very fortunate that such an experienced mariner as Les is prepared to share his knowledge and experience with us. Not only is Les a fully qualified RYA yachtmaster instructor but his practical experience as a skipper, including long ocean passages in small vessels, makes him the ideal person to examine potential skippers for our Sovereign Harbour-based, 17.5 metre training vessel East Sussex 1."

Les, a former Royal Marine, said: "I believe in the MVS because we play an important part in keeping our maritime heritage alive and also we are ready to provide well-disciplined, skilled and uniformed volunteers to assist the authorities when required by carrying out a wide range of tasks at sea, in harbours and along the coast.

"With our fleet of craft like East Sussex 1 based all around the country we provide safety cover at major events such as last year's International Fleet Review at Portsmouth. Locally we are marshals for the annual RNLI Regatta which takes place over the August bank holiday weekend and, of course, we actually take on the running of the highly successful Sovereign Harbour Fun Weekend in June.

Anybody interested in joining should contact 01323 768998, no experience is required.