NICK BROWN – 1991

At the AGM of 17th July, 1991 Ted Kendrick moved a motion nominating Nick Brown for Life Membership. In support of his motion Ted informed those present of Nick’s involvement from the time he joined our Club in 1979. Firstly serving as Heron Class Captain for four seasons from 1980 and then as our Club’s Training Officer from 1984. Nick was the first Club member to obtain the Y.A. Accreditation for this role. From the move to our new Club House in 1988 until 1991 Nick had devoted every Saturday morning and many Sundays throughout the sailing seasons to the training classes. These classes were a major source of income and new members for the Club. His outstanding contribution to our Club should be recognised by rewarding him with Life Membership. This motion was seconded by Malcolm Lloyd-Owen and was carried unanimously by acclamation.

He also was a member of the Race Committee after he finished as Heron Class Captain. When he was Training Officer, Nick also organised a flexi day for himself during school summer holidays and would organise a mid-week picnic day for junior members whilst we were still located on Uhr’s Point. Quoting form an Article in UTR of August 1991 Sandra Donovan wrote “There would be as many as half a dozen Manly Juniors having great fun on the water with treasure hunts, pirate skirmishes, balloon fights and right in the middle was this rather big ‘kid’ who looked somewhat older than 10 or 12. (It was the beard that gave him away). There was always plenty of capsize practice on these days! Of course, Nick was only there ensuring that no harm came to any of the juniors. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it.”

Over the years Nick wrote many articles in Up The River on sailing and safety matters passing on his knowledge to the membership generally. Since he was made a Life Member Nick continued as Training Officer until he relinquished it at the end of the 2000/01 season. He is still seen offering advice and giving a hand around the Club as well as still sailing his Tasar, a boat he and his wife moved into in 1984 when the Tasar Class was formed.

For the 2022/23 season Nick was still on the Management Committee as Tasar Class Captain a role he has held since the start of the 2017/18 season. In the 2019/20 season his role changed to NS/Tasar Class Captain a position he held until 2023/24 season.