Eight Bells for YJA Stalwart Chris English
by Yachting Journalists' Association 11 Feb 14:30 UTC
Chris English © Yachting Journalists' Association
We are sad to report the recent passing of treasured YJA member and Honorary President, Chris English, who has moved on to sail the skies at the grand age of 90.
He was a member of the association for over 40 years and was the Chairman for three years beginning in 1992. Since then, he has been an almost permanent fixture on the YJA Committee.
For many years he served as the YJA Secretary, managing membership enquiries and administration matters, and became the 'go to' person for almost all committee and association matters, with his knowledge stretching back so many years.
In the early 1990s, he was involved in a new venture - Yachting Awards Ltd - which established a new BT British Nautical Awards.
This was an amalgamation of the previously separate Royal Yachting Association (RYA), British Marine Industries Federation (BMIF) and the Yachting Journalists' Association (YJA) Awards, and was created to bring the various award schemes together into one place.
The company's partners included the RYA, the British Marine Industries Federation and the YJA. Chris was appointed as the CEO of this new venture, quite an achievement and recognition of his talents, especially as he was able to confirm sponsorship by BT, together with Sir Chay Blyth's Challenge events, and he put together a three-year deal for the then BT British Nautical Awards.
BT duly sponsored some of the YJA galas for our members, and it fell to Chris to organise these very successful events. These are fondly remembered by older members who attended the famous lunches at Trinity House.
The role dovetailed with Chris' main career in the electricity power industry. He started as an electrician in the 1950s, where he worked for British Railways, based at Waterloo station. He then moved on to the South Eastern Electricity Board (SEEB) for the remainder of his professional career, acting as publicity and events manager.
Chris also worked for his local radio station, BBC Radio Brighton and BBC Radio Sussex. He was involved as an engineer, presenter and producer on many programmes for the station including Motive Power, about the past, present and future rail and road transport, and Seasports, broadcast on Sunday mornings, for sailing, powerboat and sub-aqua enthusiasts. Chris also wrote a weekly sailing article for his local newspaper, the Evening Argus.
He was also heavily involved in helping with theatre productions, especially the local Brighton Theatre Group, in the town where he spent much of his life. He was a keen and active sailor, enjoying local racing and cruising, with his yacht kept at Brighton Marina. Indeed, it was only a few years ago that his family suggested it might be time for him to ease up on his time afloat!
Perhaps one of Chris's enduring legacies, and one that he will be remembered for in the YJA, is his creation of the Young Sailor of the Year award in 1993, to go alongside the famous Yachtsman of the Year trophy, which was established in 1955 by Sir Max Aitken.
The Young Sailor Award was created by the then YJA Committee at Chris's behest, to encourage and recognise young talent in the sport, and shine a light on possible future stars.
This has indeed proven to be the case, with Young Sailor Award winners Sir Ben Ainslie and Dame Ellen MacArthur going on to be winners of the Yachtsman of the Year award. Being voted as a worthy recipient of the Young Sailor Award, one inspired by Chris's vision all those years ago, has, without doubt, helped many of these future stars along the way in their careers.
Chris was recognised for his achievements and longevity as a YJA member, and his time serving on the committee at the 2021 YJA gala dinner in Southampton, where he was presented with a hand-crafted glass award in recognition of thanks and appreciation from the YJA members by Shirley Robertson OBE.
Chris is survived by his wife Ann, his two children, David and Caroline, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
On behalf of its members, the YJA committee would like to let his family know we will remember him with huge fondness and gratitude for his selfless devotion to the association over so many years.