January 2009 newsletter

Solent area member Hilton Matthews (1947-2008)

A teller of tales and creater of memories. A teacher by example and inclusion. A guide to new experiences. The wonder of being at sea at night with a wake of phosphorescence. The power of wind captured and harnessed by sail. A deep respect for the sea and of tradition, history and continuity. Above all, generosity and friendship.

Happy New Year and welcome to the January 2009 newsletter.
Firstly, Keith Allso has very kindly written some happy memories of Hilton, who died last year and we will miss him very much at our rallies.

I knew nothing about Old Gaffers until I met Hilton through a friend of mine. I met Hilton and my life was changed! I believe he changed everyone's life he met in some way or another. He always had time for everyone he met and was a great warm character in every way. He was an amazingly generous person with his family and friends, saved money in every way he could, even on his beloved gaffer Lillian Rose. I have spent many hours sailing with him and Lily, and learn so much about the Solent, sailing and the Gaffers' way of life. His history goes back a long way in the world of water and sailing. He has always been around water and boats and did until his last days.

His father was a well known boat builder on the Isle of Wight and I believe he must have picked it up from there. Early on in his life he worked on and around the Falkland Islands cataloguing all the shipwrecks around the islands and finding out their history. He worked for a few different museums, and seeing his house he could have charged entry with some of the amazing artefacts and paintings he had! He was one of the first divers down to the Mary Rose to certify her name and recovered a huge amount of what is now in the museum there in Portsmouth. He never gave up his work as a historian, with the Classic Boat Museum on the Isle of Wight and his favourite sailing club the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne on the island, where Lilian Rose was moored.

I have lots of memories sailing with Hilton and going to lots of places on Lily I would never ever have gone to in my life if I had not met him.