24 Nov 2017
Loughborough student presented with prestigious award
Loughborough student Tom Wood has been recognised for his commitment to yachting and will be presented with a Youth Award, one of the Royal Yachting Association’s (RYA) most prestigious awards.
The award will be presented by HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA.
Tom’s club, South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club (SWFYC), nominated him for the Community Volunteer award. The presentation will take place at the annual RYA awards ceremony in London on 24 November.
Tom began sailing in 2015 and has since become SWFYC’s first Junior Club Captain, helping to get a town council grant to buy five Topper sailing dinghy’s and mentoring all the junior members.
He additionally created, organised and ran a hugely successful two-day junior Championship in August 2016, and his enthusiasm and organisational skills make him an inspiration to others.
Tom said of his award; “When I first heard that I had been awarded the Community Volunteer award, I was initially surprised as I was entered without my knowledge. Upon opening the letter I knew the magnitude of the award and was, still am very honoured to receive the award.
‘As the first Junior Captain of South Woodham Ferrers Yacht club, my first aim was to engage with the junior members of the club, giving them a voice and opening up more opportunities for them to get involved with the disciplines. I’d like to thank the club for their support of my ideas and the junior section for their enthusiasm for them.
‘I would especially like to thank my parents, Louise and Stephen Wood for supporting me throughout the year, I doubt it would have run as smoothly without their guidance and I can hopefully say I've made them proud! I’m very excited to be attending the presentation with my family and am very much looking forward to the day!”