Bernard Turner
Bernard became a pivotal figure within the Folkboat
Association, organising the hugely popular Folkboat
Week at the RSYC in August of each year, which
culminated in the fiftieth, biggest and most successful
such event in 2015. In addition to being a well-known
figure in Solent racing circles and a keen and willing race
officer, Bernard undertook the very time consuming job
of Secretary and Treasurer of NIFA, the international
governing body for Folkboats, from 2008-11. Attending
meetings all over Europe.
He was a prime mover of the Yarmouth Carnival and
he acted not only as Treasurer for the hugely popular
Old Gaffers’ Festival, but also as compère during this
three-day event. He also led the local amateur dramatic
society, the Strolling Players, for three decades when he
was frequently the pantomime dame. Bernard was a
member of the Slipshod Singers and often compèred at
their concerts.
He was an inspirational leader for the RNLI for fifteen
years, filling the appointments of Secretary and Lifeboat
Operations Manager for the RNLI at Yarmouth IOW,
where his sensible, practical approach to difficult
situations earned him the respect of all crew members.
Within the local community Bernard was a Yarmouth
Harbour Commissioner and a town councillor, and at
a national level he was deeply involved with the Ellen
MacArthur Trust, an organisation that enables children recovering from cancer to
participate in sailing. He was always there, supporting and helping, when the children
came to Yarmouth in the five Trust’s vessels. This work still continues in the summer
season.
His son Mark, (recently appointed CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race) after competing
in the single-handed Mini-Transat in 1997, introduced on a Saturday evening at the
RSYC, a fellow competitor as a ‘Future Star’. That young girl was, (now Dame), Ellen
MacArthur, who then went on to become one of sailing’s biggest success stories. Mark
then helped Ellen found the Ellen MacArthur Trust.
As Yarmouth’s possibly most loved “Grumpy old man” he was never afraid to tell
people what he thought, when he believed something was being done badly, or
someone treated unfairly but his strong sense of responsibility was always to the fore
and was a prime reason why he was one of the RSYC’s Club’s guardians. Bernard’s
spirit lives on in the Club.
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