“The friendships that have been formed over many years…”
“It is like being part of a large family and gives me a feeling of belonging…”
“There is always someone to help when it is needed…”
“Life in the 21^st century brings different pressures on members, but it is important to make everyone feel part of the club”

These are the reflections of four volunteers, (with a whopping 167 years of BSC membership between them), when asked for their favourite thing about being a member of the club!  

And doesn’t that just say it all? Yes, we come to BSC to sail, but we stay for the kinship, the friendships and the feeling of family – on and off the water.

This time, we’re shining the spotlight on a brilliant example of that spirit: the fabulous volunteers who make the Mid-Week Lunch Club happen every month. 

The Lunch Club was the brainchild of long-standing member Marilyn Sinclair, and set up 15 years ago.  Marilyn explains:

“I felt that many of the older Members were being overlooked in the Club’s social calendar and that it would give them a reason to come to the Club, even if they didn’t sail anymore. It has also been especially popular with those Members who have lost their partners, as again it gives them a reason to come and meet up with other Members in a similar position.”

Together with an army of dedicated volunteers, Marilyn and the brilliant caterer Bridget Mellor, who always goes above and beyond, welcome around 30 members each month. In all that time, the only thing that’s managed to stop them is a global pandemic!

Over the years, the Lunch Club team has included:

• Barbara & Bob Appleby
  
• Jane Foulds
  
• Kate Stewart
  
• Marg Norman
  
• Jan Nuttall
  
• Penny Baines
  
• Julie Leary
  
• Tricia Parker
  
• Anthony Sinclair
  

These names represent years of love, service and support for the club, both on and off the water.

Barbara, for instance, joined the club 25 years ago when the Osea Sailing Club tragically burnt down in 1996. Her experience as social secretary and running the galley across the river saw her get stuck in at BSC from the very beginning. Barbara went on to run the galley during club week from 2003 to 2021, working hard to secure the club a 5 Star Hygiene rating!  (Bet you didn’t consider that when enjoying your bacon roll before racing!). 

Marilyn has volunteered in a number of positions since joining back in 1969 - from Cadet Skipper to introducing the Macmillan Coffee Morning in 2011, which has raised over £12,000 to date! (BSC members clearly LOVE their cake!) Whilst serving on the social committee, alongside initiating Lunch Club,  Marilyn identified there was a lack of social activities for members at the other end of the life cycle and set up the kids’ Christmas party in 2021. Now the wildest party in the calendar! 

Over the last 35 years, Penny has joined many a winter working party, fulfilled bridge and safety boat duties; and, when her husband was a Flag Officer, organised and catered social events, as well as being an active fundraiser for the Clubhouse Redevelopment Project. Penny served on the main committee, taking a particular interest in HP&E, but now says, “I am happy to help out whenever asked.”

And Tricia – Alongside helping with Lunch Club, Tricia is a core part of the Webs & Comms and Membership sub-committees, helping with the day to day smooth running of the club and attraction of new members.  Tricia has served many years on the Main Committee, including in the Flag Officer Roles, becoming our second ever female Commodore. Asked what she gets from volunteering, Tricia says: ‘I enjoy knowing that I am helping the club to keep the self-help ethos, which gives it its character and community feeling’.

There is no doubt that the social side of the club brings just as much, if not more, than the sailing to our members. And we are lucky to have people who are ready to roll up their sleeves, serve up a slice of cake, or even slip into a santa suit! 

In the words of Marilyn Sinclair: 

"I just like being involved and helping out wherever I can and am able.  As I was once told “The more you put in the more you get out” and I personally agree wholeheartedly with this comment!

Fancy getting involved?

If you’d like to be part of the social side of the club – whether that’s Lunch Club, events, parties or anything in between – we’d absolutely love to have you.

Just drop a note to Julie Shelter at: social-secretary@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

You never know… it might just be the start of your next 40+ years of friendships at BSC.