Michael and Marion Smailes: Redoubt Sailing Club

Title

Michael and Marion Smailes: Redoubt Sailing Club

Subject

Michael and Marion Smailes

Description

Folkestone resident Michael Smailes is a founding member of Redoubt Sailing Club. Established on 1 May, 1967, at Nickolls Quarry in west Hythe - where its members continue to sail to this day - Redoubt is one of the few active inland sailing clubs in Kent. In this interview, Michael - with contributions from his wife and fellow sailor, Marion - describes his introduction to sailing as a schoolboy in Dover, the origins and successes of the club, and the many challenges Redoubt has faced (and faces) in its more than fifty-year history.

Publisher

Kent's Sporting Memories

Date

23 October, 2019

Contributor

Michael Smailes, Marion Smailes; Michael Romyn

Rights

Kent's Sporting Memories

Collection Items

Michael Smailes Oral History Recording
An oral history interview with Michael Smailes (with contributions from Marion Smailes)

Michael Smailes Oral History Summary
Summary of an Oral History Recording with interviewee Michael Smailes (with contributions from Marion Smailes)

Michael Smailes sailing at Nickolls Quarry, west Hythe, in 1968
Michael Smailes sailing at Nickolls Quarry in west Hythe, soon after the opening of Redoubt Sailing Club, in 1968

'Training Week' at Redoubt Sailing Club, 1981
A photo of sailors at Redoubt Sailing Club during a 'Training Week' in 1981. Redoubt became a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recognised teaching establishment in 1978.

Redoubt Sailing Club Prizegiving, March 1983
A photo taken at a Redoubt Sailing Club prizegiving ceremony at Lyminge Village Hall on 5 March, 1983. Marion Smailes stands on the back row, third from left.

'It's the pits, but family club is on right track': Kent Messenger feature on Redoubt Sailing Club, 18 March, 1988.
A SPORT extra (Kent Messenger) feature on Redoubt Sailing Club, detailing all the club had to offer in its 21st year (18 March, 1988). 'Its concrete prefab clubhouse may lack the lustre of the marinas', it states. 'But countless youngsters and adults…

Nickolls Quarry, home of Redoubt Sailing Club, 2004
An aerial photograph of Nickolls Quarry taken in 2004. Large parts of the quarry have since been infilled.

'Lifetime Award for Club Founder': Michael Smailes receives a Royal Yachting Association Community Award, 2006.
A Kentish Express newspaper article, published on 24 August, 2006, which reports on the presentation to Michael Smailes of a RYA Community Award for a Lifetime Commitment to the sport of sailing, in 2006. Also featured is a photograph of Michael…

Michael and Marion Smailes: Redoubt Sailing Club
A photographic portrait of Michael and Marion Smailes at their home in Folkestone, Kent, in August 2019.

'I used to thoroughly enjoy teaching youngsters': Michael Smailes on his love of instructing at Redoubt Sailing Club
An excerpt of an oral history recording with Michael Smailes, in which he describes one of his favourite aspects of attending Redoubt Sailing Club - teaching. (Transcript attached.)
View all 12 items