The Royal Natal Yacht Club celebrated their royal ties in style on Saturday 2 June as they joined clubs and organisations from around the world in honouring Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
In the photo: The Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Richard Crockett from Hillcrest, had the honour of igniting the final cannon during the club’s Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations
Hundreds of people lined the lawns to observe the Parade of Sail that had a number of dressed up boats, large and small, motor sail down the channel with the Honorary Commodore, Willy Vandeverre leading the procession, followed by the Commodore Richard Crockett, then the Vice Commodore John Banfield.
Following the Parade of Sail, everyone converged on the lawns to hear a message from the Queen herself being read out by the Honorary Commodore. Vandeverre proudly stood on the balcony overlooking the crowd conveying Her Majesty’s sincere thanks for the club’s continued support.
A 21-Gun Salute then followed the royal message, with the Chairman of the South African Cannon Club firing off a variety of cannons with 15 second breaks. The final two cannons fired were the club’s century-old cannons – significantly set off with the Honorary Commodore, Vandeverre, firing the second last shot and the Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club Richard Crockett finishing off the loud festivities.
The two club cannons dwarfed the other cannons and the shots bounced off the surrounding buildings with the supporters all shrieking with excitement at the booming sound.
Richard Crockett beamed, “We are the oldest yacht club in the country and one of two with Royal ties, so it was a very important day for us. The festivities went off with a bang, literally. And it was a wonderful honour that I was able to fire the final cannon.”
Leading up to the official time of sunset, a lone Scottish piper lead Our Yeoman of Signals to the club’s flag pole and at 05:04pm the flags were lowered to the tune of Highland Cathedral.
This concluded the formal celebrations but the day’s festivities continued in the Lower Deck with a British-themed Pub evening.
