The Commodore advised that Mr Parker had achieved a lot for the Club through his active role in a number of committee positions. Apart from being the Rear Commodore Sailing from 2009 to 2012, he was very successful as the Sailing Secretary ensuring that all the classes were equally involved. He was the Race Committee chairman and committee member of the China Coast Race Week for many years, and was the Chief Scrutineer for numerous offshore races. He selflessly lent his experience and expertise to the Marine Sub-Committee and supported the Club’s safety management of Stanley Dragon Boat Races for many years. He also voluntarily travelled up to Xiamen to umpire fledgling Match Racing events at Iron Rock Sailing Club, and was the Race Officer for the China Cup International Regatta for five consecutive years, during which time he successfully established and enhanced that regatta’s reputation to the point that it is now. This selfless contribution had helped enhance the Club’s reputation internationally as one capable of running regattas of the highest order.
A member of RHKYC since 1995, Mr Parker had served his time on various committees of the Club including General Committee, Sailing Committee, Class Secretaries’ Sub-Committee, Marine Sub-Committee, China Events Sub-Committee, China Coast Race Week Organising Committee, Match Racing Committee, Hainan Race Committee, Vietnam Race Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Nominating Committee, Extreme Sailing Series Working Group and Activities Committee. He also served as the Club representative on Hong Kong Sailing Federation and Cruisers Owners’ Association.
The Commodore explained that since Mr Parker was currently working overseas and was therefore unable to attend this meeting, the Club would arrange to present the award to him on another suitable occasion.
The Commodore advised that on the rowing side, this year’s recipient was Mr Paul Tattam for his outstanding contribution to rowing. Mr Tattam arrived in Hong Kong with his family in 1991 after being recruited by Shatin College. He began his life-long involvement with the sport at Bradford Grammar school in northern England, first as a coxswain and then behind an oar once he was big enough. From there he rowed quite seriously at university in Oxford and Bradford. He rowed for several clubs in Hong Kong before joining the RHKYC in 2001 where he raced in mostly eights and double sculls at Shatin. As a former member of Rowing Committee, he supported rowing – both on and off the water - and over the years also did committee work at the Hong Kong China Rowing Association as well as umpiring at Shatin and Middle Island.
But while he was obviously an active competitor, the Club also recognised Mr Tattam’s support of rowing as a teacher and a coach. He was one of the ’silent heroes’ who had long supported the sport of rowing in Hong Kong, and this award acknowledged his dedication to one of our core sports. He began coaching when he started his teaching career in Nottingham, looking after school age rowers at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont. Once settled in Hong Kong, he coached novices at the Shatin Rowing Centre in Fo Tan and developed a rowing club, that through fundraising efforts and parental support eventually developed its own fleet. To further facilitate the growth of youth rowing in Hong Kong he started the Shek Mun Student Rowing Club in 2007, focusing on students from various schools in Kowloon. And as youth rowing at the Club began to take off, we were able to leverage the work he did, to grow our support of students.
Looking back, Mr Tattam had touched many lives as a coach, helping students increase their skill levels on the water. But the real impact had come from helping them understand the value of hard work and dedication, instilling life lessons that change young adults for the better.
Since Mr Tattam was now working overseas and was unable to attend this meeting, the Club would arrange to present the award to Mr Tattam when he returned to Hong Kong for a holiday.