Co-op’s gift puts wind in club’s sails

It was with great pleasure that Rutland Sailability members welcomed three representatives of the Anglia Co-operative Community Fund to their regular sailing day at the Rutland Sailing Club on Rutland Water. Doug Boyall and Bev Middleton from the ACCF in Peterborough, were joined by Paul Brown, manager of the Oakham Co-operative Superstore, at Rutland Sailability to present 2 new sails for the club’s multi-hull Challenger boats funded by ACCF. In thanking ACCF for their generosity in funding the new sails, David Walker, Deputy Chairman of Rutland Sailability’s Marketing and Promotions Team, recalled the very valued support the Fund had given the club over many years. In recognition of their long established commitment to the club and to mark this very special occasion, the visitors were presented with the club’s traditional gift of a “Gone Sailing” photograph. As sailing got underway, disabled sailors took the Challengers, with their new sails, out onto the water where they were joined by the Black Kinsman boat sporting its previously funded ACCF sails - much to the delight of the visitors. Rutland Sailability is a registered charity based at the Rutland Sailing Club, Edith Weston, providing sailing opportunities for those with disabilities of all kinds. Funding from sources such as ACCF enables the club to continue to provide the very best facilities for its members. Sadly, this will be the last time funding will be awarded to Rutland Sailability by the Anglia Co-operative Community Fund, as the fund will soon be closed following the merger of local Co-operative Societies into the larger Central England Co-operative based in Lichfield.