The Sail Training Ships (STS) Lord Nelson and Tenacious are owned and operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, a charitable organisation to bring the joys of 4 mast sailing to those with some form of a disability. The ships are sailed with an 8 person permanent crew and 40 voyage crew of a mixture of able bodied and not so able, split into 4 watches.
I made a voyage on the STS Lord Nelson and when returning after the voyage of a life time I joined the Midlands branch, whose chairman was a Mike Field, went to various meetings and fund raising activities. Then I was asked to be, what was then, Youth Award Officer. So when 3 judges were required for the District final I immediately thought of Mike Field who agreed to be one.
As time went by Mike served on the Multiple District Award panel and was so impressed with the standard of the candidates and the fact that there was only one winner that he and the directors of the JST decided to present an award to the candidate who in the judge’s opinion would gain most from a voyage on the STS Lord Nelson or the STS Tenacious. Those candidates that I have met after their voyage all come back with grins all over their faces and with gratitude to the Lions and especially the JST for the experience of a life time.
If any Lion or partner would like to experience a voyage look up Jubilee Sailing Trust on the web. Your Club could even sponsor a young person, or like me an old person. I think those in their 80s have voyaged.
PDG Lion Henry Woodgate