Peter Willis stood down as chairman of the Nancy Blackett Trust after 17 years last Saturday – and the event was marked by a feast attended by over 50 members. Peter’s successor is Roger Sturge, company secretary and previously treasurer and sailing secretary. The handover took place at the Trust’s board meeting held at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club.

Peter launched the original Nancy Blackett Appeal in 1996, and set up the Trust a year later when the fundraising target had been reached and Nancy Blackett purchased.

The evening dinner, the ‘Founder’s Feast’, also at the Royal Harwich, included speeches by Mike Rines (above), who rescued and restored Nancy in the late 1980s, and MC for the evening Brian Hammett, who reminded the assembled company of the role played by the restoration, and its celebration dinner at the Butt and Oyster, is laying the groundwork for TARS.

Peter was presented with a specially-commissioned painting by Claudia Myatt (above and below), paid for by member’s subscriptions, and a specially-composed song was performed, also by Claudia, who provided music for the evening.

Peter promised he would continue to work on behalf of Nancy Blackett, and thanked everyone who had contributed to the Trust over the years, and especially to the success of the evening.

Peter Willis and Roger Sturge
Photo credits: Peter Willis, Bryan Bonser, Nicola Key

See our Flickr photoset for photos of the evening.