February 2025 Lunch

This month's lunch was hosted by our immediate past Chairman John Goodhead who had the good fortune to welcome a new member with a 'white envelope' (we've run out of brown ones)

and present Michael Fisk with a gift in recognition of ten years service on the club Committee.

Following our lunch of Cottage Pie and an excellent Apple and Cinnamon Crumble with Custard, Phil Wilkins our Club Treasurer presented the Annual Accounts for 2024. These showed a higher than anticipated surplus and a very healthy bank balance, which was why our Subscription and Meal costs had not been increased. The Accounts were approved by a unanimous vote and the Chairman thanked Phil and Auditor Chris Cuss for their efforts.

Our after lunch talk was given by Ian Worley who gave an account of his participation in the 1977-78 Whitbread Round-the-World Yacht Race.

Ian spotted an advert in 1976 and with a family tradition in sailing was accepted to join the crew of Great Britain II for the race in the following year. He was appointed a watch leader and also official photographer for BBC Grandstand.

Ian recounted how the crew of seventeen, including one women worked four hour watches for the entire trip, slept whenever they could and ate tinned food which was often pot-luck as the labels got washed off!

It was an amazing feat of endurance in all weathers and Great Britain II was the winner on elapsed time for the second race in succession taking 134 days to complete the 26780 nautical miles.

A young hirsute Ian Worley aboard Great Britain II

Many thanks to Ian for a fascinating insight into the life aboard a racing yacht in the 1970's. It was very tough going and you've aged well!