The Society of Dorset Men’s latest charity initiative is Chesil Sailability, who create opportunities for local people with disabilities in Weymouth and Portland of all ages to sail at the National Sailing Academy. Working with local groups, around 50 disabled sailors have been supported in 2013, Chesil Sailability’s full first season.
Inspired by the hosting of the 2012 Paralympic Games sailing and the British medal successes, Chesil Sailability has worked with local volunteers and sailing enthusiasts to establish a Sailability group, to enable local people of all ages and any disability to go out on the waters of Portland Harbour. During their first full season in 2013, Chesil Sailability supported people to come sailing for the first time, to experience the freedom and joy of being on the water. They support those who had been sailing before to enjoy considerable success on the national racing circuit. Using specialist dinghies- called Hansa 303’s- and a range of other adapted boats, such as a Cornish Shrimper, Chesil Sailability can make disability plain sailing for everyone afloat.
Peter Fry is one of the volunteers with Chesil Sailability and on hearing the group urgently needed six more buoyancy aids, suggested they approach The Society of Dorset Men’s charity fund. Peter is a longtime member of the society.
“We were delighted to help with £300, as we are always keen to support local charities working for local people,” says Andrew Prowse, Deputy Chairman of The Society of Dorset Men. “The waters around the Sailing Centre are the best in the world and there can be no better base for local disabled sailors.”
“We are overjoyed to receive this money,” comments Hugh de Iongh, Chairman of Chesil Sailability, “it will help us to safely extend our groups by another six sailors.”
The Society of Dorset Men gave £5,050 to Dorset good causes between 2011 and 2013. The recipients were: Airborne Initiative £250; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra £500; Bournemouth Youth Cancer Trust £200; Dorset County Hospital Mammogram Appeal £500; Dorset Echo Toy Appeal £200 & £100; Dorset Youth Association £350; Equilibrium Skills Base £500; Julia’s House £500; Will Mackaness Trust £500, Poole Sailability £250; St James’ Church, Poole £100; Tornadoes of South Dorset £350; West Dorset Womens’ Refuge £500, Weymouth Sea Cadets £250.
£300 to Mosaic was the first 2014 donation, then £100 to the Dorset Echo toy appeal and now Chesil Sailability, making £5.750 in all.
The Society of Dorset Men was founded 110 years ago on 7 July 1904. The Society has a long and rich history, beginning as The Society of Dorset Men in London and aiming to bring together fellow Dorsets in the capital city. However, since the 1950s, the main activities of the organisation have been centred on Dorset. Today, there are around 1,200 members throughout the UK and all over the world. The President is Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey playwright Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL. He succeeded Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DL DSc DMus in 2011, the only Lord Mayor of London to be born in Weymouth, who still lives in Wyke Regis.
The four objects of The Society of Dorset Men are: “to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the Society.”
Michel Hooper-Immins
