Thank you so much for the superb celebrations last Saturday evening, we are still reeling from the amazing generosity from all of you and the wonderful tributes paid to Tony and I on the night.

It was hilarious to watch the progress of the flying turtle and Tony totally oblivious of what was approaching across the ceiling, it was a masterly touch managing to rig up such a contraption!

The video, slides and photos from the past brought smiles, oohs and aahs from everyone at the dinner as they went down memory lane with Tony.

We could not take in everything that was presented to us apart from realising how very lucky we are to have a brand new, industrial strength, all year round awning to accommodate our friends on those spring/summer/autumn evenings when we can all sit with a glass of peapod wine and put the world to rights and discuss what went wrong with the windsurfing that day.

Sunday evening we sat quietly and went through the box of gifts.

The beautiful bouquet of flowers carefully presented by Lucy, have pride of place in our lounge

Thank goodness for those pro pegs and the safety lock strap – no more begging from John A when the wind threatens to blow the awning inside out.

We can’t wait to use the crab pots in the summer in the waters around Tenby as long as there is no local law against laying crab pots.

Someone  must have realised that this retirement is now my golden opportunity to bring a little culture into Tony’s life and I am thrilled to accept the theatre vouchers, these will be put to very good use in the Spring (before serious windsurfing resumes).

I think we can put your minds at rest as to what the Icelandic currency will be used for and it won’t be to visit their famous penis museum or to buy tins of rotting shark meat to bring home as souvenirs for the club. Today we booked trips to see the famous Gellfoss Falls and Geysers, to laze in the Blue Lagoon and your generous present has been used for a night time excursion to track down the Northern Lights which apparently have been absolutely amazing so far this year.

Tony is really pleased to be sponsoring his very own turtle especially as it is swimming in the seas around Fiji. When we do a return visit in 2013/14 we will have to keep an eye open for it!

Whose brilliant idea was it to find the ultimate in cook books? Now I shall be able to prepare specialist courgette dishes to give to unsuspecting visitors to the Tiffen Summer residence (the awning).

We both had lumps in our throats when we read ‘This is Your Life’. The comments and photos are truly lovely and the book will be a treasured possession.

You have all been so generous and especially Barry Rivett with his time and enthusiasm and Phil Young with his passion for creating slide shows and finding embarrassing photos of Tony! We will not disappear, on the contrary, we will be able to spend quality time with friends and enjoy the delights of Brog Lake.

Thank you once again to everyone.

Tony and Pauline

PS Tennis balls are rolling around all over the place in Glebe Road, Rusty says a big thank you and so does Barry as his balls should be quite safe now!!!!!!!!!!!

DEPARTING

Whichever way you look at it 28 years in the same job is a long time! On January the 3^rd 2012 this old donkey goes into retirement, I’m finally hanging up my managerial windsurfing Boots ( Atan Hot Mistral ones of course!  Sorry advertising old habits die hard!) And I am making way for much younger and more enthusiastic owners. Sam and Emma will be taking the business over next year and I hope you will give them all the support and help that you have given me over the past quarter of a century.

With a new couple at the helm the club will be able to grow and prosper and I wish you all well in the future. Not that I am totally disappearing, Pauline and I will split ourselves between  our Lodge in Tenby and when we are back at home I can be found in a small damp corner of Brogborough cultivating a small patch of rare Thistle plants (sorry bit of an in joke)

Or should the wind reach the required strength (not too little and not too much) I may be seen sporting an inflatable Zimmer frame with an 8.5 Tushingham Lightning aboard and attempt to carve a perfect turn on it, without of course actually planing out!

Here’s wishing you all long and happy years windsurfing at Brogborough, the future looks bright

HAVE FUN!

Tony and Pauline

ARRIVING

We would like to say a big hello, and big thank you for the warm welcome we have already received from many of you! We both understand that the prospect of change brings doubt in many people’s mind, however as we pick up the reigns and take over from Tony and Pauline’s positions of ‘best jobs in the world’ we would like to put your mind at rest. We are not here to reinvent the wheel, we will be merely changing the tyre, as we all know the club house could do with a ‘winter clean’.

A lit tle bit about Us...

Sam : (aka Hugh’s Grandson) I am a well weathered windsurfer, having first learnt to sail here at Brogborough as a teenager, and I’m sure many of you will remember me especially if you went to Dahab 2006. I was the first cadet member of that time, being one of the youngest non family members. I have since kept up my keen interest in windsurfing, and decided that I wished for it not only to be a hobby, but also a dream to work towards. I am currently in my final year of studying for a Ba Hons degree in Extreme Sports Management at Southampton Solent University, and very much enjoying learning all the aspects needed for the successful running of a business in the industry. Being able to take over from Tony with the position of ‘Best Job in the World’ has been a dream come true, and I look forward to not only having my job and hobby combined, but also in meeting a whole new group of friends involved at the club, however, “behind every great man there's a great woman” at which point let me introduce you to Emma, who will be very much a part of Brogborough life filling the role that Pauline as played for so many years supporting Tony

Emma: Having grown up with an interest with all thing water associated I was more often than not in the water. I was introduced to kayaking, rowing, and sailing as a child in guides and scouts. I took up surfing, and wakeboarding as a teenager, and carried on throughout university. I also realised that I wanted to keep my career and hobbies close, and that a career in watersports was the dream! I am a recent graduate from Southampton Solent University, having studied a Ba Hons in Watersports Studies and Management. Throughout my three years studying I worked and volunteered within the industry, teaching disabled waterskiing, and as an activity instructor for young people. On meeting Sam I was shown the errors of my ways (in terms of sports) and turned to windsurfing. I am looking forward to not only having the ‘Best Job in the World’, but also hoping that my tea and cake making skills can match that of Pauline! I look forward to meeting you all, and learning all the things you have to teach!

We are both relatively new to this, and help and advice would be greatly appreciated, so any advice or questions will be openly accepted. As a wise man once said, “no one said it would always be easy, but it will always be worth it” and as we both believe, better a bad day by the water than a good day in an office!

Sam and Emma