YACHTING enthusiasts from around Maldon met up to celebrate the 90th anniversary of a boating club.

Maldon Little Ship Club, a sailing club, nominates officers to run the club.

It names its officers in true Naval tradition, as instead of a chairman they have a commodore, a vice commodore and a rear commodore, known as flag officers.

Each has their specific individual flag according to their rank and if agreed by the committee a flag officer moves up a rank when the commodore retires after two years of duty.

Current Commodore Mrs Sue Woods had the vision, as part of the Club’s 90th Birthday celebrations, of arranging a luncheon for as many past commodores as she could muster.

During this period the club has had at least 45 commodores and 16 past commodores met up recently in the clubhouse on the Hythe Quay for a Sunday lunch.

Commodore Mrs Woods prepared this splendid lunch of roast beef and turkey herself with the help of her family.

Amongst the guests were Anne and Norrie Tomlinson who had travelled from Scotland for the occasion and are the only couple to have both held the office of Commodore.

Peter Maynard the longest serving past commodore from 1978 to 1980 gave the toast to past and present commodores and amid the joviality there was much reminiscing and positive thoughts for the future.

The current flag officers were present and gave their support to this historic occasion.