January 2009 newsletter

 I helped Hilton on one of Lily's last refits before we both took her out for a Boxing Day sail for a couple of races and a jolly. What I didn't notice during the repainting inside, he ran out of the correct paint for the wood burning stove down below. So while we were out during Boxing Day to show off Lily's new paint job and woodwork, full crew on deck and boats all around joing in with the sailing of all shapes and sizes, Hilton said to me, it's cold here on deck and we could do with a cuppa, go light the stove and put the kettle on so we can all warm up. I went below and lit the stove and threw in some extra oak to get the heat up. A minute later the whole boat was full of thick black smoke which was pouring out of everywhere it could to the outside world, in a desperate chance to get some fresh air itself like me, on the flour trying to find the way out.

What I didn't know was that Hilton had painted the whole stove in car paint, and the chimney, too, and it had all burnt off when I lit the stove. Hilton said it would go in a minute. The other boats in the race with us stopped racing and turned around to us (we were normally at the back of the race), they rushed to our aid thinking we were on fire, with all the crew choking on deck and smoke pouring out of all the windows of Lily they shouted to us: 'Is everything ok, do you need to leave Lily'. Hiltons said back very fast: 'It's ok, Keith has just put the kettle on and we are having a brew'.

I won't forget that day ­ I can still taste the burning paint.

Sadly, that was the last day I went sailing with Hilton. I was shocked when he passed and my heart is with the family. His son has promised to keep Lily going and has asked me to crew her again. We will be at Yarmouth Gaffers in 2009 in Hilton's memory.

I have hundreds of photos and memories of our times sailing together and lots of video too of the fun times, water fights, Cowes Weeks and Fleet Review we did on Lily. I still hear his infectious laught and see his smile. He lit up the room and any club we went to along the coast.
I would also like to thank the Old Gaffers for all their support through the years.
Keith Allso, friend of Hilton Matthews, and crew of Lilian Rose for 3 years.