HRH the Princess Royal presented Colin Magee with an RYA lifetime achievement award at a prestigious ceremony held on Thursday 22nd November at the Westminster Church School House in London.
The RYA Awards acknowledge the importance of volunteers within the sailing and boating communities across the United Kingdom. They recognise the outstanding contributions, time, effort and experience individuals have made to make it possible for others to enjoy the sport.
Rod Carr Chief Executive of the RYA said ‘the work and voluntary time that these award winners put into our sport is simply astounding. Without their sheer hard work, commitment, and expertise our sport would be immeasurably the poorer'
Colin's citation read:-
Mr Colin Magee
Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association
Colin is a larger than life character who has single-handedly been responsible for the most important developments in the Leicestershire and Rutland Sailing Association (LRYSA). He has brought together a team of more than 40 volunteers to set up a mobile cross-country regatta programme that provides friendly and accessible racing for predominantly school aged young people of all ability levels in the county.
Furthermore the LRYSA under Colin's stewardship has won the award for the most improved sports association in Leicestershire and Rutland for 2006/7. Colin has devoted four decades of his working life to encouraging young people of all abilities to learn to sail whilst having fun and making great friends in the process. He has a wonderful sense of humour and a singular ability to motivate all around him to give their very best in sailing and teaching and encouraging people to learn and enjoy the fabulous sport of sailing!!
Thanks to the RYA/Picture Link for the use of this picture.
Thanks to Jeremy Batchelor for the following pictures.
Further pictures on Photobox site. Using the counter bottom left of screen, pictures 1 and 2 ( of 84) are group shots and pictures 55 to 59 show Colin, Jeremy and John Buckingham talking to HRH.
