A Tonbridge sailor will be presented with one of the Royal Yachting Association’s most prestigious awards by HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA in recognition of his commitment to Tonbridge Town Sailing Club.

Bob Elliott has been nominated for a Lifetime Commitment Award by his club and has been selected as a winner by the RYA Honours and Awards Panel. He will receive his award at the organisation’s annual awards ceremony in London on 16 November.

During 35 years’ membership of Tonbridge Town Sailing Club, Bob has been at the forefront of the club in a number of prominent roles. As an RYA Dinghy Instructor and Powerboat Instructor, he has supported and encouraged two generations and hundreds of new sailors with patience and good humour, as generous with his encouragement of the adults as he is with the children.

Always on hand to offer ‘have a go’ sessions and support the club’s Open Day, interclub and social events, he has also administered the annual camping week for 25 years and organises the highly successful and fun monthly Junior Club. His gentle demeanour, big personality and friendly rapport making him the focal point of these sessions.

Bob has shown an extraordinary amount of dedication to the club and remains to this day at the centre of everything. If the club is open for business, Bob makes it his business to be there.

Bob said on hearing of his selection: ‘I was both surprised and honoured to learn that I had been put forward for this award, as I am one of a team of dedicated volunteers at our club.  I am very much looking forward to the day and to receiving the award.”

For more information about how to get out on the water in the London and South East region visit www.rya.org.uk/go/startboating

For more about Tonbridge Town Sailing Club visit http://www.tonbridgesailing.org/