Sailors recognised for charity work

AWARD WINNING: Mayor of Otley Mary Vickers, Hollybank resident Gemma Toft, Norman Stephens from the club and Dr Ingrid Roscoe.

Otley Sailing Club is the only organisation this year to be given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, in recognition of the work it does with disabled people.

One organisation the club works closely with is Hollybank Trust in Mirfield, which has adults in its care who enjoy weekly sailing sessions at the sailing club near Leeds.

The award was presented to Otley Sailing Club last Thursday afternoon by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe, during one of Hollybank’s Sailability sailing sessions.

She said: “This award comes from the Queen and is not given out lightly.

“There is no more appropriate association than the volunteers of Sailability.

“I know some of the groups, particularly Hollybank, which I have visited on a couple of occasions, and I’m aware of the huge leap of confidence and delight that powerboating brings the people who use this club.”