Birthday Wish Comes True as Paul, 103, Revisits Historic Yacht Club

A former sailor has celebrated his 103rd birthday at the historic south coast yacht club he was a member of for more than 60 years.

Paul Cavanagh travelled to the Royal Lymington Yacht Club from his care home in the town, Colten Care’s Belmore Lodge.

He was one of the club’s longest-standing members having joined in 1958, later serving on its general committee in the mid-1990s.

The idea for a return trip to mark the yachting enthusiast’s birthday stemmed from comments he made to Belmore Lodge team members on a visit to the nearby Lymington RNLI lifeboat station in September last year.

The occasion was the annual Emergency Services Day, also known as 999 Day, which features open days, visits and other activities to celebrate the work of ‘blue light’ services in communities across the country.

Choosing to pay thanks to the RNLI, a party from Belmore Lodge, including Paul and fellow resident Louisa McIntyre, presented homemade treats and cards to lifeboat volunteers at the station.

Knowing about his lifelong love of sailing, care companions took Paul for a look at the yachts and boats moored up nearby.

Companionship Team Leader Sharon Semple said: “When we asked him if he would like to go back to the yacht club at some point he said yes, and we agreed his birthday would be the perfect opportunity, so we set about arranging it.”

The birthday visit featured a lunch of fish and chips and a nautical-themed birthday cake, complete with lighthouse, specially baked by Belmore Lodge chefs.

Paul was accompanied by Louisa who is also a former member of the club.

Sharon added: “When we arrived the staff recognised Paul and a few people having their lunch came over to talk to both him and Louisa.

“The cake was presented to Paul by the manager along with a lovely book published to celebrate the yacht club’s centenary. Paul received one and so did Louisa. It was a lovely lunch and visit.”

Renowned as a base for yachting, dinghy sailing and motor boating, the club was officially founded in 1922, the year before Paul was born.

It traces its origins back to being the Lymington River Sailing Club, which was established in 1914 but suspended during the First World War.