A VOLUNTEER from a local sailing club has received the Royal stamp of approval for her catering skills.

Pam Cousen, from Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club, found out in November that she had been awarded a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Community Award for Outstanding Contribution.

The honour was in recognition of the 70 year old’s leading role in providing the club’s catering services for more than a decade.

Now she has been presented with the award via an online video conferencing call by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.

Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club Vice Commodore Lester Mulligan gave this update after the call with Princess Anne.

He said: “Just to let you all know that I have been very privileged to join Pam on an RYA video conferencing call with Her Royal Highness, to formally present Pam with her award.

“The call emphasised the importance of the social inclusion side of a club, in addition to on the water activity - encouraging families and all to enjoy and join in what YDSC has to offer.

“Our galley facility is first class and Pam richly deserves this award.”

Although based on the Grimwith Reservoir in North Yorkshire, many of the club’s members come from Wharfedale.

Pam, a retired home economics teacher who doesn’t sail herself, is one of 44 volunteers from across the nation whose efforts were recognised in the RYA Volunteer Awards 2020.

She has become a valued member of the club since being asked to set up the ‘galley’ by Treasurer Phil Whitehead - her brother - when the new club house was built in 2008.

That was just after she had retired from Ashville College, in Harrogate, and Pam used her organisational skills to design and equip the club’s cooking area.

Over the years, she has recruited and trained numerous young members to help out, all of whom have achieved their Food Hygiene Certificate.

The club’s catering is renowned in sailing circles and the galley consistently receives a five star rating from inspectors.

Reflecting on her role, she said: “I love doing it because there are lots of young people at the club and all of the members are lovely. We have big events but I also enjoy just the normal Saturdays and Sundays,when the children come with their parents and sit down and have a meal together.

“It’s about giving something back into the community. I don’t know one end of a boat really from another but it’s the most fabulous club and if I can help, that’s just great. It’s been a really nice part of my life.”