| I was delighted to attend another West Mersea Town Regatta this year, especially after the pandemic prevented last year's from taking place. I calculated that it was my 74th as I was at at least one regatta in the 1930s. I have before me a copy of the advertising poster for the 1939 Regatta which says the Mersea Island British Legion Band will be playing. I remember being at at least one Regatta when they played as my Dad Les played trombone in the band. The Band did not reform after the war.
I believe I have only missed one regatta since the War and that was in 1952 when I was in the Army and couldn't get home from Great Malvern where I was stationed at the time. The 1946 Regatta was a 'Welcome Home Regatta' put on by the Army with Mrs Hone from the Social & Sailing Club being very much involved. The event was marred by tragedy. Three of the group of soldiers having cleared up the following day borrowed a dinghy and went for a row. They capsized and the incident was spotted by Cassell French who managed to rescue two of the men, he was not aware that there had been three in the boat until it was too late. The soldiers body was recovered next day.
From 1947 onwards the Regatta has been put on by a committee, I was a member of that committee for 50 years and Commodore in 1984 with Wendy doing a grand job of presenting the prizes.
By 1954 my brother John had his first sailing dinghy and I was his crew becoming a competitor instead of spectator. After sailing with him for several years I crewed on the Smack GRACIE with David Green before joining the startboat crew out by Nass Beacon for many years - until I got unsteady on my feet and felt it was time to stay ashore. On more than one occasion we, the startboat crew, missed the watersports when light winds caused the sailing to get dragged out. By the time we got in it was all over.
Looking at the 1939 poster. it's interesting to read that there are GRAND FIREWORKS AT DUSK if funds allow. I cannot remember if funds did allow, and there was a firework display that year.
Pre-war Regatta band. Les Green is second from the right.
2021 Regatta. Ron Green on his buggy with daughter Stephanie. Behind them, Carole Green on her buggy.
Published in Mersea Life October 2021 page 74. | 