I was saddened to read of Lynda's death. May she have fair weather, winds and tides on that unknown journey to the hereafter which awaits us all.
Others have recorded Lynda's sterling contribution to the magazine over many years.
However, I would like to draw attention to Lynda's time as Membership Secretary from 2012 to 2016. (This more than covered the time that I was on the committee including a year as Chairman.)
Lynda inherited a membership muddle. There were (from memory) something like six different categories of membership coupled (from memory) to something like five different rates of subscription. Also the membership records were not up to date and the payments records were confused, with many members paying out of date subscriptions.
The committee resolved that there should be one category of membership with one membership subscription with an extra charge for the printed magazine. KISS ! The committee put this to the AGM and got it approved. However, that was the relatively easy bit. Lynda bore the brunt of executing the policy change.
Lynda had the organisational, secretarial and technical skills AND the tact, diplomacy and determination to implement the changes. That did not happen overnight .... but Lynda had perseverance, 'in spades'.
Most members will nowadays not know that that was a time of some troubles in the Association, with changes which were seen by some as necessary evolution being regarded by others as unnecessary revolution: hence conflict. I was in the chair at this difficult time and Lynda was always a good counsellor to me. I was always very grateful for her wise, kind advice.
On one occasion, my late wife Jane and I drove almost to Land's End to visit Lynda and David We found a wonderful house that they had renovated. It was full of warm welcome from humans and dogs. Also lots of tea and home made cakes; and Lynda's outstanding craftworks. And the large grounds were full of the thousands of trees that they had planted. Truly well rounded people, leaving the world better than they found it.
Later they moved to Mylor Bridge, still in their beloved Cornwall, but more manageable and less remote (eg for Lynda's increasingly necessary medical appointments). Their ocean sailing days were long past. However, their lovely bungalow was within sight of the waters of Mylor Creek, at least at high tides. And more convenient for yacht club membership and for sailing and maintaining various watercraft and latterly the junk rigged KRKA which had previously belonged to the Association. And they brought with them Lynda's swimming pool (with heated and moving water) which helped ease some of Lynda's medical conditions.
They were always generous hosts, including hosting the 2016 AGM (with lots of tea and cake) in their house, followed (for the younger members) by a memorable walk through the woods to a meal at Mylor marina. Neither the Chair nor the Secretary of the Association were able to attend. Two stand ins were required. Lynda volunteered for both !! Typical Lynda.
The AGM was followed by a wonderful two day junket: up the so beautiful Carrick Roads; overnight on remote upriver pontoons; some boats sailed on the tide further up to Malpas and the outskirts of Truro, the capital city of Cornwall. See Lynda's description and the many photographs in JRA Magazine Issue 71 June 2016, Page 51. First class organisation and a first class write up. In the group photograph on Page 52, Lynda is on her knees ... understandably given the work she had put in ... but she is still smiling.
They attended a number of Brixham Heritage Sailing Regattas where David helmed my boat Lexia so competently that we won a pot. I am so glad that earlier this year I managed to visit them and found Lynda to be as positive as ever, and to be welcomed by a new ebullient dog. (Although Lynda did say that it was David's not hers.)
These notes are of course about Lynda. However, they were a strong team. And David has his own story as a very capable builder of a very big boat, ocean crossing skipper, dinghy sailor and latterly an active member of the Coast Watch organisation.
Dear David, You will miss her beyond measure. It's tough. (I know.) We here are thinking of you. Yours aye Jonathan
Jonathan Snodgrasss