Peter Honoured for Lifetime Achievement

Magda Makowska, Race Director of the Tall Ships Races for Sail Training International, presented Peter with a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award at the organisations annual conference.

Peter’s involvement with sail training began in the early 1990s, where he first crewed on Swan, continuing for many years as secretary and Trustee of the Swan Trust. His contributions included active participation in Tall Ships Races, Small Ships Races, and Nordisk Seilas, laying the foundations of a lifelong commitment to sail training.

When Sail Training Shetland was founded in 2009, Peter was appointed as its first Secretary and, from 2011 to 2023, served with distinction as Chair.

Peter’s earlier professional career was in education, where he served as a headteacher before taking on senior governance roles, including Chair of the Shetland College Board and member of the University of the Highlands and Islands. His expertise in education definitely had an influence on his keenness to support and mentor young people throughout his work in sail training. He also served as local councillor and representative on the board of Lerwick Port Authority for 10 years, strengthening his interest and role in marine industries.

A dedicated member of the Rotary Club, Peter has championed opportunities for young people to share their sail training experiences, securing funding and raising awareness of the personal development benefits of such opportunities.

Peter has shown unwavering commitment to supporting young people, whether by crewing alongside them, checking in on their progress with placements, or taking a close interest in ensuring candidates are matched to the right ships. He spends hours in planning, consistently preparing for the next round of placements, charting sailing routes, and generating new ideas to broaden horizons.

He played an instrumental role in building relationships with vessels that formed a smaller fleet for the Nordic Sail series; providing continuity when Swan was unable to attend the Tall Ships Races. His dedication to enabling young people to fulfil their potential through sail training has been evident in every aspect of his work.

Peter has also been responsible for supporting numerous nominations of young people for recognition. Every nomination he has submitted has been successful.

Chair of the Swan Trust SCIO, Mary Irvine said "Peter's service to the Swan Trust has been outstanding. As Chair, I have frequently relied on his encyclopaedic knowledge and his amazing network of contacts. In recent years he has been less active due to caring responsibilities at home, but he has always been willing to do what he could to promote sailing, particularly to young people. He is a tireless advocate for the benefits sailing can bring in terms of life skills and personal development."

Banner image - Peter and Magda. Credit to Sail Training International - Kris Romanski