A SAILOR says she is honoured after it was revealed she would be presented an award by the Princess Royal.

Mary Makey, from Messing, has been yachting since 1993 and spends much of her time on the waters around north Essex.

Mary has been praised for her work to bring people together and her skills running her club’s office.

She will be presented her Royal Yachting Association gong by Princess Anne who is the president of the association.

Mary was nominated by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham.

When she joined the club more than 25 years ago she was involved in the junior section and later went on to become the chairman of the UK National Cadet Class Association for many years.

She would go on to be part of the organising committee of the International Dragon class, in this role she helped organise many championships.

A valuable member of the house and general committees at the club, she has spent many years supporting a wide range of activities from committee work to hosting to race management.

She ensures the smooth running of the office as well as bar and catering operations and collates financial management information for the Flag Officers, providing essential budget and management figures.

Mary is on the committee for regattas at the club and for the annual Burnham Week, leading the race recording team, and she is also a major contributor to the running of the annual Endeavour Trophy Invitational.

The association said this was “all managed with her signature confidence and winning smile.”

Mary said: “Being involved with the club and classes at all levels is part of my life so I was not only totally surprised to learn of my nomination but honoured that it was to be awarded.”