It was with much sadness, I’m sure, that many sailors will have learnt of the death of the Reverend Christopher Coutauld, one of Britain’s finest public spirited philanthropists. Christopher died at his home in Gosfield, Essex, on the 11th January 2014. My thoughts and that of the mate are with his family.

Christopher, after initially starting training as a barrister, moved to theology and became a churchman. Christopher had a long love of the sea and the rivers and creeks that fed it, spending much time sailing on the family’s yacht, this was not hampered even by being struck down with polio, like so many others of the period, as a youngster.

When Christopher’s father died the family yacht, Duet, was left to him. Christopher, with a friend, Chris Ellis, then went on to found the Ocean Youth Club. The ‘club’ has since helped many of Britain’s youth get afloat and experience the joys and tribulations that the sea can give.

The Duet, from Classic Boat files.

Christopher and other family members, who have all been partners in his family’s philanthropy, supported many charitable trusts and bodies. Amongst these is the Courtauld Institute at Somerset House, a place that regularly has excellent exhibitions of art – a place oft visited.

In our own world of sailing and apart from the Ocean  Youth Club, the Oak Trust (a foundation Christopher set up) has supported; the Cirdan Trust, who work with disadvantaged youngsters; the Nancy Blackett Trust, in their aim to keep Arthur Ransome’s old yacht, Nancy Blackett (Goblin in, We Didn’t Mean to go to Sea, and Secret Water), sailing and available for use; and one which is close to my own heart, The Sea-change Sailing Trust, the brain child of a long friend (skipper on Cirdan Trust vessels, especially the Xylonite) Richard Titchenor and others.

The Blue Mermaid – a replica will soon be ordered by the Sea-change Trust. Currently the trust charters either the Cambria or the Reminder. The new vessel will enable the trust to work a longer season and give their clients the opportunity to work a vessel under sail, alone, and achieve something together… They’ve trialed this with barges on charter … it works!

The Reminder being woked up towards Maldon under sail alone … after the trip one of the young men aboard said to me, ‘We only used the engine once all week …’ It was the last bit in along the promenade. His grin was grand indeed.

We could all help here…

For my part, I would have loved to have met Christopher and given him my own thanks for the work he has done in assisting the Sea-change Trust: I believe that their ethos is right.

The trust can be found at: www.seachangesailingtrust.org.uk

Rest, Christopher, rest…