About Us

HYSTS Celebrated 50 years

From those who helped Dave Loader (1922-2010) in the early years of the Havant Youth Sail Training Scheme (HYSTS), to the 8-year-old young person who started sailing this year, to those from past and present, they all joined the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of HYSTS at a recent event held at the Bedhampton Community Centre.

Two video screens were used, one showing videos of past sailing events including expeditions, and the other screen displayed still photos. Around the walls, photographs of the founder of HYSTS, Dave Loader were displayed along with ones of his long serving colleague, Peter Bee who sadly passed away this year and would have been highly delighted to attend the evening.

Many other photos were displayed including the extensive work completed on the boat compound and the refurbishment of the base. Additionally, other photos included those of presentations and some of the numerous people who have been involved over the past 50 years.

Our President Owen Davies’ toast to HYSTS

Good evening and welcome to this our 50th Birthday Celebration. It’s wonderful so many people are here tonight. In case you don’t remember me, I am Owen Davies and I joined HYSTS in 1982 and soon after became Principal and now I have the honour of being the President.

Tonight I am going to talk about three things in relation to HYSTS, the past, the present and the future. As we all know HYSTS was the vision of Dave Loader who set up a charity in 1974 “ To provide challenging sailing open to all”. He had the backing of Colt International and IBM, two local companies. HYSTS was set up at Thorney Island Sailing Club. It was becoming increasingly difficult to access Thorney Island, as it was an RAF base and then an Army base, so the decision was made to relocate to the western end of Chichester Harbour, to the Hampshire Schools Sailing Base at Langstone in The Ship car park.

The fleet of 3 Wayfarers and a diesel engine Safety Boat were all moved to Langstone and the organisation went from strength to strength. There are too many stories to share with you tonight .There were fewer restrictions in those days such as Risk Assessments and Health and Safety requirements and we sailed on Saturdays and Sundays on the tide.

Along with Dave Loader ,Pete Bee and other adult competent helms, many of you here tonight, and up to 14 teenagers we often sailed to Emsworth using the narrow channel close to Beach Rd and passed Emsworth Sailing Club . We sailed to Fowley Island and had lunch. We sailed to Marker Buoy, halfway towards Hayling Island Sailing Club. We also sailed to East Head and Hayling Island Sailing Club and back. An annual expedition was held to sail round Hayling Island, leaving Chichester harbour, crossing Hayling Bay and sailing into Langstone Harbour. We certainly provided challenging and adventurous sailing opportunities.

We were supported by adults who helmed and a group of on shore helpers many of whom are here tonight. We were also financially supported by Hampshire County Council and local and County Councillors.

The Present.

Following Covid, HYSTS has been steadily rebuilding . We now have a new team of volunteers and we are no longer financed by Hampshire County Council and so we raise our own funds. We have a smaller sailing area and a fleet of Fevas, a Hartley 15, with 2 safety boats and a shore contact in attendance for each sailing session. We provide all the instruction, safety cover, buoyancy aids, helmets and wet weather gear . At HYSTS staff members are all volunteers and hold Enhanced Criminal Records Certificates and we continue to be an RYA Training Centre with an Annual Inspection. We have increasing numbers of young people who are attending sailing sessions.

If you have not visited the sailing base in The Ship car park for some time you will be amazed at the transformation. Thanks to the generosity of a committee member the sailing base has been refurbished and upgraded and is now fit for purpose and up to modern standards with changing rooms, a shower cubicle and a very smart and clean briefing room with a small galley.

The young people that are now attending the sailing sessions are younger than previously and the sailing programme has been amended appropriately. We now own the sailing base and are in negotiations with HCC to finalize the lease of the boat compound. We have a redesigned and excellent Website and newly designed publicity materials.

The Future and its Challenges

Sailing will continue and we will continue to help young people from the age of 8 to achieve their potential through the provision of of sailing opportunities and qualifications as a challenging activity. We are also in the process of setting up a new charity ‘Sail HYSTS’ and once set up with the Charity Commission the assets of HYSTS will be transferred to Sail HYSTS this will further future proof the organisation. As I have said we are now self-financing and always looking for fund raising opportunities. We are also engaged with Succession Planning so that our future is assured. Finally, a huge thank you to all of you who have contributed in any way to HYSTS over the last 50 years

And with grateful thanks to all that have been involved in the organisation of tonight’s celebration in particular to the makers and decorators of the cakes

Please raise your glasses for the Toast, “Sail HYSTS and the Future”.

Our Vision and Mission Statement
In 1974, with the backing of Colt International, IBM and the RYA Seamanship Fund, Dave Loader who was then Station Sergeant at Havant Police Station, set up a trust called the Havant Youth Sail Training Scheme based on Thorney Island, with a single vision “To provide challenging sailing, open to all, irrespective of income, ability or gender”.

In 1986, the Scheme re-located to its present base in Langstone with 3 Wayfarer dinghies and 1 safety craft, Jubilee Rose. Over the years the type of dinghy has changed to complement the ability of our young sailors.

Today we still continue to operate under the same vision and this remains core to everything we do.

**Dave Loader. The man with the vision**

HYSTS is a registered charity and is run by volunteers providing sailing opportunities for young people. Our members are made up of a wide spectrum of people, from as young as 8 years old. This creates a fantastic opportunity for personal social development, building teamwork skills, and making long-lasting friendships.

Equality and diversity are central to the work of HYSTS

HYSTS will treat all people with dignity and respect, valuing the diversity of all. It will promote equality of opportunity and diversity. It will eliminate all forms of discrimination on grounds of race, gender, marital status, caring responsibilities, disability, gender reassignment, age, social class, sexual orientation, religion/ belief, irrelevant offending background, or any other factor irrelevant to the purpose in view.’

The Committee

Hilary Sparkes
Chief Instructor

Nigel Fryatt
Bosun

Geoff Lynch BEM
Ex-naval officer from Waterlooville to receive BEM for his service in the community.

A RETIRED naval officer from Waterlooville will receive the British Empire Medal for his service in the community. Testament to his history of assistance within the communities of Havant and Waterlooville, 69-year-old Geoff Lynch will soon accept the BEM from Her Majesty the Queen.

It was five years after retiring from the Royal Navy in 1998 that Mr Lynch began working unpaid as a fundraiser and facilities manager at the Havant Youth Sail Training Scheme, becoming principal in 2014. In the same year, Geoff took up the responsibility of running the Monday Club at Leigh Park Community Centre – a social space for people who once had or still suffer from mental health issues. Speaking to The News, Mr Lynch reflected on his honour. He said: ‘I feel honoured and humbled. It’s a privilege. ‘The Monday Club is a place for people to meet, play scrabble and have a chat. It’s important to me because I know it’s important to those people.’

As an ex-serviceman, Geoff believes learning to sail is worthwhile for young people. ‘It’s exhilarating, challenging and doesn’t involve looking at a screen. ‘It’s a great character builder. Mr Lynch has also been heavily involved with the Waterloo and District Residents’ Association for the past 15 years.

Peter Bee – Memories

Pete was born in St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth on the 16^th January 1946 (the only child of Stella and Albert Bee). He was educated in Portsmouth and was Head Boy of the Oak Park, Havant, Secondary Boys School; he attended the Bishop Otter College, Chichester.

He started his career as a manager of one of the Grieves & Hawkes Gents’ Outfitters but the call to a teaching position was too strong and he became a Mathematics Teacher at Bishopsfield School, Fareham in 1970, the school later merged with St Ann’s to create the Neville Lovett School, until 1997 when health problems forced early retirement from full time employment.

It was in 1963 that Pete joined St James Church, Emsworth as a Bible Class Teacher, this developed into leadership of a very active youth group. This included three Easter walks to Canterbury, camping trips to Wales and Scotland as well as full range of sporting activities. In 1986 he become a member of the Club Support Team with the new Country Youth Service assisting youth groups throughout the area.

Close Friends

Colin, Roger and Peter competed in the Frostbite sailing races, often winning the series, much to the annoyance of the Naval Competitors.

Pete was an avid Pompey Football fan and held a season ticket for a number of years. Jane remembers escorting Peter to Fratton Park and having to ensure that they arrived in one piece. Peter loved the Fratton End, where he, Jane and Colin had Season Tickets. Jane and Colin have fond memories of Pete when he often got the score wrong as he had a habit of falling asleep through the match.

Youth work was important to Pete. Both Pete and Colin visited youth groups in the South Hants area. Jane was a deputy leader with Pete at the Running Free Youth Club in Emsworth, where their passion was gratefully received in the local area.

Peter then became a member of the Miller Clan, with Jane and Colin’s children, Edward, Charlotte and Emily calling him Uncle Pete. Their children, Jack, Amelia, Hudson and Harper also called Pete “Uncle Pete” and all have fond memories of him.

Pete was a Godfather to Charlotte, where he took the role seriously. Charlotte and Pete have many fond memories together from the babysitting with the Terrys Chocolate Orange, to Charlotte helping out on the bar at the local Social Hall for many years. Charlotte and Pete have a warm-hearted memory of a recent trip to some garden centres drinking good coffee and looking at plants and art. Charlotte recalls: “Uncle Pete really stepped up when I needed him the most and this is something that I will never forget.” Pete loved Scotland and enjoyed many holidays with his friend John. Peter had a passion and drive to research his family Ancestry.

Along with Colin and Jane who were friends with Pete for over 40 years and looked after him, he was lucky enough to have understanding and supportive neighbours Ken and Anne, who also looked out for Pete and helped him with shopping and errands. It is clear that Pete to all was a pinnacle of the community, whether that be at Bedhampton Social Hall, Community Centre, where he was a Chairman for many years, taught in local schools, ran local youth groups, ran for conservative councillor in the local area, his involvement with HYSTS and edited the In Touch Magazine. Pete touched so many different peoples’ lives in so many different ways he will be sadly missed.

I first met Peter in 1982 in The Ship carpark where he was mooring up a launch with an inboard diesel engine. I took his lines and helped him. We got chatting and he told me about HYSTS and the aims of the organisation.

Peter was a very articulate and persuasive person and we had certain things in common: teaching, sailing, sailing instructing and youth work. Peter was a great ambassador for HYSTS and of course he talked me into sailing and instructing with the organisation. The rest is history.

Peter has been a legend with the HYSTS community. He knew all the characteristics of the young people who came to sail. He was very encouraging and patient with beginner sailors gently enabling them to believe in themselves, to work as a team and improve their sailing skills.

Peter was able to bring out the best in young people and through sailing he was able to influence youngsters’ attitudes to life in general.

Peter annually organised BBQs at the centre for the young people, their parents and supporters including the local MP. He also involved HYSTS youngsters in helping at Burns Nights at Bedhampton hall which was a great night out for everybody. Peter had the ability to educate youngsters in life in general as well as sailing and they saw another side of Peter who could also organise an enjoyable evening for adults. In later years Peter suffered from poor health but continued to keep a keen interest in HYSTS and attended Committee meetings whenever his health allowed. Peter will be sadly missed and I hope he is now sailing in calm waters with a gentle breeze.

Owen Davies

Peter was a popular, generous and humorous man who always showed a genuine interest in what others were doing. Characteristically reticent, he dealt with his medical condition in a stoic, courageous and unpretentious manner never letting it get in his way of life. He had an interest in local and national politics and would quietly campaign for the candidate he thought deserved his support.

He was passionate about the sailing Scheme and held strong views about how young people should be involved in running their own youth organisations. On a number of occasions on January 25th each year Pete planned and organised a Robert Burns night to celebrate the Scottish poet’s birthday. A bagpipe would be played; poetry was read by Pete wearing a kilt and dinner consisting of haggis, neeps and tatties (more commonly known as turnips and potatoes) was served. Oh! And a little whisky was consumed!

A skilled craftsman, particularly in wood, he enjoyed making and fixing things; he made new windows and prefabricated and fitted a new main door surround for the sailing base. He designed and made an accurate three-dimensional bottom contour model; this clearly illustrates what the sailing area looks like when the tide is completely out. The shoreline, mud and sand banks are highlighted and areas identified where shallow or deep water could be found – this model is particularly useful to those who have not sailed in the waters of that corner of Chichester Harbour before. You could guarantee that whenever you visited Pete, he would have some project underway or was planning the next one.

He had the ability to explain complex issues or theories from the known to the unknown which must have been particularly important when he was teaching mathematics.

A cheerful, optimistic and likeable gentleman who was dedicated to the furtherance of outdoor education for young people; Pete will be missed by all of us who had the privilege to have known him.

Geoff Lynch

More memories of Pete

Dear Colin (Pete’s longtime friend),

It is with great sadness that we have all received the news of Peter’s passing. Peter was special man, and a gift to the world.

Some members of HYSTS that knew him well in the mid-2000s cherish many memories of Peter out on the water, here are their thoughts:

“Sending lots of love to all family and friends, a great man x.” Gemma Gordon (Heathcote)

“Sending love to his family and friends! X” Hannah Heathcote

“Heart breaking news.” Kirsty Loveson (Loveridge)

“He was a true legend. He played a massive part in my love of sailing. So many fond memories” Jenny Aykol (Witt)

“What a legend he was, sending love to his family x” Katie (Wells)

“I hope Peter and Dave Loader are off sailing wherever they may be! I have so many great memories x.” Katie Rae

“Very fond memories of larking about on the water.” Rob Dunford

“This is so sad” Erin Ayling

“How lucky to have a childhood with Pete and HYSTS in it. Wonderful memories of endless summer, thank you for everything, Pete x” Jodie Wells (Pinnell)

“Happy memories” Tom Hassan

“Peter, you were an important part in many lives, a true inspiration. You taught us so much more than just sailing. An absolute legend, and an inspiration. I’ll treasure the many memories you are a part of.” Phil Oestreich

“A lovely guy who was greatly appreciated by the youngsters for his hard work for HYSTS and his work at Bedhampton Community Hall.” Jackie and David Rea

“Pete was a real gentleman.” Hazel Matthews

“Peter was a special man, and a gift to the world. Within the group Pete has been described as a “true legend” and played a huge part in many members’ love for sailing. Peter helped many in HYSTS with some thanking him for the part he played in their great childhood. There were endless impacts and memories that Pete helped the HYSTS group create. Peter has been a true inspiration to many, and taught them so much more than just sailing. We hope that Peter is now off sailing with Dave Loader wherever this may be.” One of Pete’s students

R.I.P. Pete.

Lady Rose Christening HYSTS boats in 1975