John Turner 30th May 1932 - 29th August 2022

 

An appreciation by the Turner Family

 

John Turner was born in West London, in May 1932. He had a happy childhood until WW2 intervened in his life at the age of 8 at which time the bombing of London led to him becoming an evacuee three times.
 On the second time he was evacuated it was to his aunt who lived in the Essex countryside where his uncle Harry showed him how to service his 350 cc Ariel motorbike; this was to prove useful later for him in fixing boat engines.
He loved cycling and while in his teens he and his friend Jack cycled round Ireland. His love of cycling never diminished and he still had a go on his beloved Claude Butler bike at the age of 89.  John was always an adventurous person. He and a group of friends bought an old London taxi and took it to France and toured Europe. He learned to fly a glider and also how to box.  John rarely did things the easy way. So, while studying medicine he also took a Diploma in theology and also learned German.
 

As was the rule then he was called up for National Service and joined the army, being posted to Gottingen in Germany. As always, he made the most of every opportunity, becoming fluent in German and taking advantage of the close proximity to the Harz mountains to go skiing.
Subsequently he moved to Edinburgh for his surgical training and on starting there he met Audrey, one of the theatre nurses in 1960.  They married in 1962 and settled down in East Barnton in Edinburgh. A year later Susan was born with Simon following 2 years after.
John continued his neurosurgical training under Professor Norman Dott and Professor Francis Gillingham. Prof. Gillingham had an interest in stereotactic neurosurgery and introduced John to this novel technique. At the end of his training he won a Welcome Fellowship which allowed him to travel to leading centres in the USA.  In 1967 John, Audrey and their two young children headed across the Atlantic to live in New Jersey and work at Columbia University, New York and then to Phoenix, Arizona. After a final stint in Seattle he came back to be appointed as a consultant in Glasgow at the Neurosurgical Unit then based at Killearn Hospital but shortly to move to the Southern General.
He was an early pioneer of functional stereotactic neurosurgery which involves the surgeon being guided by complex calculations from x-rays, brain scans and electrical recordings to treat specific parts of the patient’s brain. An example using this technique would be to help eliminate the tremor of Parkinson’s disease. 

 John likened it to sailing where you had to study the charts in detail along with the weather and the tide tables. He loved sailing, which was something that could be enjoyed by the whole family.  His first boat was a Vivacity 24, followed by a Maxi 84 kept on a mooring at Cardwell Bay where he enjoyed racing every Monday evening. In 1981 he then moved on to a Maxi 95 which he later moved to Craobh Haven. All of his boats were named Bright Angel after the location in the Grand Canyon where he and the family had holidayed while he was working in the USA.
He sailed extensively around the West coast of Scotland as well as sailing to
the Scillies, Ireland, France and in Norway. He regularly raced in the Clyde
and on the West Coast. The family spent many summer breaks sailing around
the grandeur of the West Coast of Scotland, getting away from a busy life in
Glasgow.
When the winter weather prevented sailing, John and Audrey took to the ice
and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of curling. He was also creative with a
deep interest and love of art. He went to art classes, joined a couple of
Clubs and became president of Glasgow Southern Art Club. Not content with
developing the different techniques for oils, acrylics, gouache and pastels he
did his A level in Art history. It was fascinating going to a gallery with him as he could explain the history and symbolism of masterpieces, bringing them to life. 

Inevitably he was a founding member of the Serpent Yacht Club and as testament to his racing success his name appears on many of the club trophies. He was a Serpent committee member for many years and served as Commodore between 1987 and 89. Following his beloved Audrey’s passing in 2009 John sold Bright Angel but continued to attend Serpent musters and dinners and enjoyed guest crewing and helming on the round Shuna Race. His active involvement with the club spanned six decades up to 2021.

He had 5 grandchildren and he relished his role as a doting grandfather,
delighting in entertaining them and taking an interest in all they did. He enjoyed
doing all sorts of practical things with them; how to pitch a tent, how to row,
tie knots and catch fish as well as taking them to museums and galleries.
He will be greatly missed by many.

John Turner a personal note from Winnie Strang

 
I first met John on board a Saga round-the-world cruise ship in 2011. He had
been on board for six weeks before I boarded in Singapore and had already
made a huge number of friends.
He always had a thirst for knowledge and had organised all these friends to
study the Coriolis effect as the ship crossed the equator by watching in which
direction the water flowed down the wash hand basins in their cabins.
I met him in the ballroom dance classes but I loved to see him up on deck
watching the ship manoeuvre into the various ports of call -maybe wondering if he could have done it better?
Up on deck he told me about his wonderful days sailing on the West coast of
Scotland with both the Serpent Yacht Club of which he was a founder
member and the Clyde Cruising Club. I was enchanted to hear names like Tighnabruaich, Kames, Tarbert Loch Fyne, Crinan and the Kyles of Bute, all which I remembered from my days sailing with the Royal College of Science and Technology Sailing Club. We both left the ship in Sydney and went off on separate adventures for the next year.
However, the following year we met again on the same ship and at the end of
the cruise he invited me to visit him in Scotland and he took me to visit all
these magical places where he had sailed with the Serpent Yacht Club.
John’s parents had taken him on holiday to Scotland after WW2 and he had
decided then that he wanted to live there and so the first job he applied for
after having had to do National Service in Germany was in Edinburgh where
he married his theatre sister, Audrey.
They sailed together with the Serpent Yacht Club on many adventures and he
won many trophies which always had pride of place on his sideboard.
He was very proud to have been a founder member of the Serpent Yacht
Club and equally proud of the successful vibrant club that it is today. Thank you all for making him so happy and proud of the Serpent Yacht Club.

Serpent Photo Contest 2022

The calculations were made and the result made apparent on the 29th December but  the webpage editor apologises for the lateness of this posting.  Anyway,  better late than never here is the winner.  It is Douglas Brown with his photograph 'Mull Mountains and Castle Stalker.'  Congratulations to Douglas for this evocative image for which the prize will be awarded at the AGM on 15th February.

 And here is the prize.  The Turner Prize (Serpent) is this painting by the late John Turner and is of course a view of Rhum and Eigg from the mainland.  It has been donated by John's daughter Susan Hendry to whom we are grateful. The seascape  measures 20x17" and is a fitting reminder of a much loved club member.  Temporary custody of the painting is accompanied by a glass keeper. 

In the contest the runner up was a tie between no 1 'Calm Seas' by Caroline Hutchinson and no 9 'Ripples of time and tide' by Val Glen.

Credits for all of the photos have been appended to the listing in the previous posting.

Serpent Photo Contest 2022

Voting is for all members and we want as many as possible to cast a vote. The theme this year is 'Coastal Scenes' which is not very different from last year's 'By the Sea' but has given everyone plenty of opportunity provided they've had their box Brownie, iPhone or whatever with them on their travels.  Please study all the entries carefully- there are 12 and decide which you think is the lucky one.  Don't forget to click on the photo to see it at its fullest resolution.  

Send your decision to Graham Gillies who will collate them all and announce the winner.  This is an unmissable opportunity to be able to say that with your photograph you have won the Turner Prize - the new prize being a year's custody of a seascape by the late John Turner which has been donated generously by his family.  (You also get a glass keeper.)    The photos are anonymised at present but even if you can't deduce the photographer the names will be revealed after the judging.   The prize will be awarded at the AGM on 15th February.   

1. 'Calm Seas' by Caroline Hutchinson

 

 

 

2.  'Time for a Dram'  by Norena McAdam

 

3. The Sleeping Warrior of Arran under the Sunset by Seamus Lalor

 

 

4. "Come to St. Kilda !” he said “Marvel at the amazing coastline !” he said…   by Trevor Watson

 

5. Mull Mountains and Castle Stalker - by Douglas Brown - 1st prize

 
6.  Crinan Sunset by Mhairi Brown

 7. On Prestwick beach with Obama  (the pony) by Marie McDougall

 

8. Low tide at Barassie Beach by Dugald Glen

9.  Ripples of time and tide by Val Glen

10. Dark Skies over Drumbuie by Graham Gillies

 11. Breaking waves on the Bass Straight by Marje Gillies

12.  Board  by Charles Sutherland

Dr Ernest Bennie 12.11.1938 - 26.6.2022

 Members will be saddened at the loss of founding member and former commodore, Dr Ernest Bennie, who has died at the age of 83.

46 years ago, in 1976 Ernest was asked by Bobby Corbett to help him form a sailing club for doctors. The Serpent Yacht Club had their first ever muster that year, when 21 yachts raced to Colintraive on a stormy day in May. Ernest, his wife Norma and their young family were one of only a handful to pass the finish line on board their Elizabethan 29, Taal.

Ernest was a colourful character and a prominent consultant psychiatrist. His self-prescribed therapy in the late 1970s was to accept the challenge of building his own boat. He purchased a UFO 34 hull and deck, and fitted it out at Argyll Marine in Renfrew. Launched in 1979, Hulahoop was originally kept at the latest marina on the Clyde - Troon, which is now run by Stephen, Ernest’s eldest son.

Hulahoop was later upgraded to a Sun Fizz, Quechica in 1986, which cruised widely from its base at Largs. The plethora of teenage crew on board still reminisce about some of the best holidays they’ve had. A highlight was the CCC’s 1989 Blue Water Race from Kip to Brest in France, experiencing the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day in Belle Isle.

In 1998, the Sun Fizz was replaced with another Jeanneau, the Sun Odyssey 45 called Benita, returning this time to berth at Troon. Life-long friendships were formed over the years between Serpent Yacht Club participants, and also their children.

 Ernest served as commodore in the 1980s. He and the committee were instrumental in extending and widening the membership to other NHS employees and their families. Supported by his wife, Norma, as social convener for four years, get togethers and BBQs became a fabric of the club.

A regular venue for club dinners was the Carrick - a surviving clipper ship moored at the Broomielaw on the Clyde, but when this became untenable, Ernest’s many and varied tastes came into play. He introduced the membership to the Tuxedo Princess - an iconic, but notorious white vessel that was nicknamed (amongst others) as ‘The Love Boat’. The loyal membership supported his suggestion, despite the unusual venue. Thereafter, club social events reverted to more fitting venues like The Glasgow Art Club and The Western Club.

Ernest’s loyalty to the club and its lively programme of musters and races meant his family endured many long, wet, windy sails. But his seamanship and detailed knowledge of the relevant charts ensured the safety of all concerned. He was a cautious but adventurous sailor - prioritising the safety of crew.

His favourite days on the water were calm seas and strong sunshine. The engine would take the strain and the crew diverted to a quiet anchorage where Ernest would hop on his windsurfer, or dive - lightly clad - into the sea to cool off.

His pleasure at developing a good, all round tan, encouraged him to expand his sailing exploits outwith Scotland and over to the Mediterranean. He explored the waters around Majorca, France and then Spain, where he enjoyed 11 years of warm weather sailing. Following his Mediterranean adventures, Ernest chartered yachts in the Caribbean and assisted his cousin and crew to sail from Largs to Greece, on route to Israel.

Life took a quieter pace after Ernest and Norma’s move from Glasgow to Rhu, with marine exploits confined to motor boating with friends on the Clyde, where he enjoyed many champagne lunches in favourite anchorages.

Despite a few health problems, Ernest’s love of the water drew him to return to motor boating in 2012 on Loch Lomond, where he had his first boat as a student medic. He spent ten enjoyable years exploring the loch. Never content with just a regular boating experience, he insisted on having a paddle board, a kayak, wetsuits, and drysuits all stored in the available locker space, for young and old to enjoy together.

Even until Ernest’s final weeks, he enjoyed pottering on the loch where he had made many friends. He took great pleasure and satisfaction in encouraging his grandchildren to respect and enjoy the water.

Ernest was an adventurous, wise and entertaining character who will be sorely missed.

 

 

 

 

Autumn Muster 2022

 

Our Autumn Muster to Rothesay in September involved five yachts racing and 16 members and friends participating. The Saturday race was from Kip to Rothesay via Hun 1, CPA Buoy B and Toward Bank buoy to the finish at the Ardyne buoy.  Lollypop and Silverjack were closely matched on the reach from Kip to Cumbrae but separated after that as Lollypop chose the Cowal shore.  Exody missed one of the marks but that did not help her placing with Tulla Mhor and Katya far ahead.  The day proved to be unsettled and overcast with a good breeze becoming quite gusty at times. Thanks to Stuart Toy for agreeing to be Race officer and start  boat.

The race was fairly brisk with the wind occasionally providing testing conditions and producing some unforced errors and several changes of position. Everyone persevered without reefing and it proved to be a fun outing with minimal rain. Following the race and the customary on board socialising, we all enjoyed a hearty meal at the Victoria Hotel in Rothesay.

 

The results on corrected time (minutes) were 

:-Class one Katya 131.37,   Tulla Mhor 134.18,      Exody DNF

 Class two Lollypop  - 153.40,     Silverjack - 158.09

The Loch Riddon Barbecue

 This was an enjoyable evening on an idyllic day. Four boats - Silverjack, Black Pepper, Lollypop and Katya were on the moorings to be joined by Norena in her campervan and with a very fine cheesecake. Some of us for one reason or another had not been able to go sailing as we might have wished over the main summer season so it was good to meet up in a convivial setting with plenty of food and drink.  The sail back for this writer was good too.

 

 Croabh Muster and Shuna Race

The annual Shuna race was somewhat disappointing with just two entries despite the presence of other Serpent yachts although they probably made the right decision. To begin with the breeze varied from non existent to fickle and both Exody and Silverjack, with Roy D'Silva as crew and impeded by the presence of the Commodore on board struggled to reach the south end of the island. However once there some breeze filled in and a more enjoyable downwind passage followed with Exody taking a comfortable lead to the finish.  Thanks are due to the Hutchinsons who having declared a complete retirement from racing were on station on Aquaholic to start and finish the race.   

corr. times  Exody: 2h 9 min 42 sec Silverjack: 2h 10 min 51 sec

The BBQ on Saturday evening proved successful and surprisingly well attended despite the potential presence of Covid. It was a bring your own affair with the BBQ itself ably tended by Tom. The ever supportive Croabh team had provided a spacious gazebo at the door of the boatshed and that proved to be a good alternative to the shed interior.  

An impromptu BBQ was also held on the Sunday night including several visitors and friends and those who were to move on to Loch Spelve for the Mussel muster attended. 

  On the Monday several Serpent boats plus boats from France and Northern Ireland cruised to Loch Spelve. We had a delightful off wind sail in company and fairly creamed up the sound of Luing with the strong tide.

Our Mussel Party on the Monday evening was at the Inverlussa Mussel farm on the north-east arm of Loch Spelve. It was a bumper event attended by 6 Serpent boats and 2 visiting solo sailers from France. A huge thanks to Inverlussa who generously provided the mussels in return for a donation and also provided cooking facilities, a covered area, firewood and toilets. 

Two hot mussel dishes:  moules marinière and moules au piment were served with salad and hot baguettes. There were mussels aplenty and the meal was enjoyed by everyone and much impressed our two French guests. The evening was competed watching the sunset and chatting over a glass of wine around the log fire and thereafter it is rumoured that there was some sort of late night musical evening on Micky Finn IV.   

However strong winds that appeared during the night leading to a couple of boats dragging their anchors in the small hours. Again thanks to Tom and Caroline for organising the event and also to Marje and Norena for their work.

The event was such that it has been agreed to incorporate this event into the programme for next year.