Rugeley Model Boat Club

We celebrate our friend and leader, Peter, who welcomed us to the Rugeley Model Boat Club. Peter passed away in Derby Hospital at 15.00 on Monday 20th May 2024. He would have found it fitting that this was the time that our regular Monday sail at Manor Park had just finished.

When Rugeley Power Station finished generating electricity, their thriving Model Club, with warm water lake and its own cooked meal service, looked around for a new local lake to float their boats.

Peter brought 6 sailors with their radio-controlled Victoria yachts to Manor Park Sailing Club, with the remainder joining Aldridge Model Boat Club. This split has all been resolved amicably, as the two clubs have an annual joint Victoria Regatta (which Aldridge usually win). The Rugeley Model Boat Club have kept their name at Manor Park and meet every Monday at 12.30, except for a short break at Christmas. There are now 36 members, with the addition of a Scale Model section and skippers moving freely between electric motor and sail. It is Peter's relaxed, friendly, approach that has kept the pensioners attending regularly, at an average age of 76 and a bit. New members turn up most months and our oldest is over 90, so there is no reason to worry.

In addition to maintaining the RMBC website, Peter ensured that every member received promptly in the post a personalised birthday card from the club with their own sail number inked on to the model yacht sail in the club picture. He remembered everyone and made sure that any assistance with launching or model yacht rescue was speedily and efficiently provided. When Noel's yacht was helpfully launched by Peter without the battery turned on, Peter took the blame and also rowed the entire length of the lake to retrieve it.

Even more significant was Peter's fund raising over 4 years for the Manor Park Sailing Club. He raised the funds for 5 new dinghies, extra sails, a new clubhouse roof, life jackets, a red rescue boat and a floating jetty. This was achieved by his trademark detailed approach to a multitude of forms, coupled with his ability to befriend his contacts, the officials and charity bodies. I am sure that he would have had some useful comments about my writing here.

Rugeley Model Boat Club

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