When A Love Of Water Unites Generations

Introducing BBC Unsung Hero of the Year 2024 Jean Paton and the incredible multi-generational community of Salterns Sailing Club (Lymington)

Photo credit - Lewis Coombes/BBC

Nestled in the tranquil town of Lymington, Hampshire, Salterns Sailing Club is more than a place to learn how to sail; it is a haven where children take charge, families bond, and generations unite. At the heart of this extraordinary club is Jean Paton, a 91-year-old sailing instructor who has dedicated decades to inspiring young sailors. Her tireless contributions recently earned her the prestigious BBC Unsung Hero of the Year 2024 award, an accolade that highlights her profound impact on the community.

Salterns: A Club Run by Children for Children

Salterns Sailing Club is unique in the world of sailing with an ethos rooted in youth leadership. It is a club for children, run by children, with the Junior Committee, composed entirely of members aged 16 or under responsible for organising club events and being involved in managing the club’s day-to-day operations.

Holly Pritchard, the 2025 Commodore, explains, “I’ve been part of the club for 13 years. It’s so special because everyone gets involved and it doesn’t matter what ability you have.”

Abby Wright, 2024 Commodore, goes on stating “It's amazing. I think because everyone's so supportive. You know, it’s never felt stressful because everyone is just there to help. There are all these different parts that create a whole community with many different people of all ages, but everyone comes together in the club. It's just a really special place.”

The safe, shallow waters of Eight Acre Pond offer an ideal environment for young sailors to experiment and grow but it is the friendships, the community of volunteers and the skills that young people develop that make Salterns a beacon for what can be possible in sailing. Neil Wharmby, Salterns Chief Instructor and Trustee, notes, “Although children do learn how to sail at Salterns, this is a by-product of the club’s main purpose – that of experiencing how to run a club. Children also learn management and governance skills as well as teaching skills; many of our Junior Committee become Dinghy Instructors or Assistant Instructors and help teach the next generation of sailors”.

Salterns isn’t just for children. A not-for-profit organisation, its beauty lies in how it brings people together. Parents often volunteer as instructors or support staff, and the club has a special group called Old Salts, which includes former members and parents who remain connected to the club.

One such volunteer is Jean Paton (91), a constant presence at Salterns who over several decades has helped more than 800 children learn to sail.

Nominating Jean for the BBC Unsung Hero of the Year 2024 award Abby remarks “having people who are so dedicated just makes all the difference and it couldn't run without people like Jean.”

Jean Paton: A Lifelong passion for Sailing

Jean’s journey into sailing began decades ago on a whim during a holiday in Cornwall. “I was feeling a bit bored, and I saw some people sailing. I had three lessons, and then I hired a little boat and went off. I had a really happy week” she recalls.

Discovering a passion for the sport, Jean soon found camaraderie on the water building friendships with staff in training centres and eventually meeting her husband, a former sailor. Starting a family, they moved to Lymington, and set up a flower business. Jean’s son Rory jests “Dad said we moved here because the microclimate was good for growing plants, but it might have been more that the microclimate was good for going sailing.”

Continuing her time on the water, Jean’s passion led her to instructing, where she found immense joy in teaching children. She gained her initial sailing qualifications through her work with the Sea Scouts before taking her skills to Salterns Sailing Club.

Speaking of her grandmother’s work at the club’s ‘Moppy’ camps - full weekend RYA youth training events, Alex comments “You need a parent who will volunteer, whether perhaps by handing out cakes, helping clean up or teaching. When I was little, because dad was racing on a Saturday, Granny used to be my guardian for the day, and she was down there as an official instructor teaching.”

Teaching Beyond the Water

Jean’s early days at Salterns were defined by her hands-on involvement in instructing young sailors. Donning waders, she would stand in the shallow waters guiding children as they learned to steer and turn their boats. As the years passed however and Jean entered her late 70s, it became clear that standing in the water for long hours wasn’t the best option, so she turned her attention to teaching theory and knot-tying, becoming a cornerstone of her voluntary efforts.

Speaking about her experiences teaching young children, Jean comments “I think the interesting thing is watching them progress. They’ll start with knots, not knowing a thing and so you start with the simplest of knots and get them to work from there. You have to be very patient and give them time to work things out and not rush them because if you do, then they don’t get it at all”.

Jean’s impact working with children extends to their families.

“Before we start the actual teaching sessions, the children will sometimes come up and ask me to show them something and then the parents will come and say they have been shown a knot by their child and ask if I could show them too.”

“So many people come back to teach as instructors because she's had such an impact on everyone who comes through the club” says Abby. “She has that kind of thing where she connects with every child. She knows that they don't all come in with the same ability but Jean helps them be the best that they can.”

Family Tradition

Jean’s love for sailing has cascaded down her family. Her son Rory is a coach and granddaughter Alex is an instructor at Salterns, continuing her legacy. Rory recalls the club’s early days: “When I started helping around 40 years ago, it was a bit more free-range. We all had our own boats and taught each other. Now, it’s more structured, with RYA programs, which makes it easier to teach as you go through the levels because you’re not having to change what you’re doing.”

For Alex, her grandmother was a profound influence. “I wouldn’t have become an instructor if it weren’t for Granny and dad. She’s always shown how important it is to give back and help out.”

Honouring impact and looking ahead

As a club, Salterns has produced many accomplished sailors, including Olympians Hannah Snellgrove and Pippa Wilson but its ongoing success draws deeply from the life lessons it imparts. Its members carry Jean’s passion with them: the value of patience, the joy of giving back, and the importance of community.

“She not only inspires people learn to sail but inspires people to want to come back” Neil comments.

Holly continues “I just think her enthusiasm to teach and help people is just really brilliant. It's definitely worth her nomination for the award”. Speaking to Jean about her incredible influence on the club, including her nomination for the award, she remains surprised despite her recent win. “I’m just so pleased that the Salterns put me forward for the award; I didn’t expect a grandmother teaching knots quietly in the background to be noticed by our young Committee members”.

An inspirational figure, we asked Jean if she had any advice on what she would say to inspire someone to start instructing or volunteering to which she replies “Just get the children interested in sailing. Get the children involved and the parents will follow”.