We were deeply saddened to learn of the death on 31st October of long-standing club member Tony Wakefield.
The following tribute is from past Commodore, Jim Hibbert:
I was saddened to hear of the death of Tony.
Tony sailed in the Flying Fifteen fleet for many years and many of the fleet members benefitted from
his specially designed launching trollies.
Tony was a skilled engineer and mechanic and the Club benefitted from his talents. He
built jetties (one is still in use by Sailability to help disabled sailors to get into and out of
boats), attachments to the tractors for launching and recovering committee and rescue
boats, in fact if anything needed making or fixing he was always the first port of call.
Tony spent many hours maintaining the Club tractors and in so doing extending their life
expectancy.
In his younger days Tony and his brother built motorbikes and sidecars from scratch, which
they raced very successfully both here and abroad receiving international recognition.
ln spite of all his talents Tony was a modest, quiet man who liked to work quietly in the
background.
ln recognition of his many contributions to the running and wellbeing of GWSC Tony was
awarded Honorary Life Membership which was very well deserved.