Two Kent sailors have received royal recognition for their voluntary work.

Steve Town, a volunteer at Margate Yacht Club, was presented with a Royal Yachting Association outstanding commitment award by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who is the president of the RYA .

Canterbury's Helen Hofmann, meanwhile, was presented with a regional award.

“It was a great pleasure to be firstly nominated for this award by my club when there are many other well-deserving volunteers there," Town said.

“It was an extreme honour to personally receive this from Princess Anne and a memory I will treasure.”

Town joined Margate five years ago and now serves as vice-commodore, playing an active part in running the club and inspiring other volunteers.

In 2019, the club reluctantly decided to sell their clubhouse, which was inaccessible and in a poor state of repair.

Town assisted in finding a buyer and negotiated a deal to refurbish the ground floor and basement as a new clubhouse and training suite and lease it back to the club on a 999-year lease at a peppercorn rent.

He has been at the forefront of the project, planning and writing the 83-page technical specification, sourcing materials and nursing the building through to its conversion.

Thanks to him, the club have a large sum to achieve their 10-year plan.

“It was a tremendous honour to meet HRH The Princess Royal and be recognised for the volunteer commitment given over many years with the support of my family and friends," said Hofmann.

“I was also very pleased to meet and hear from other dedicated volunteers who attended the awards ceremony.

“Thanks goes to the RYA for organising the event and recognising the valuable role that volunteers contribute.”

Hofmann has been involved at many clubs in several roles and has been instrumental in setting up multiple RYA training centres. She also helped establish the Dover Boat Shed, which encourages vulnerable adults to meet on a boat to offer mutual support.

She attended the RYA participation and membership committee for four years, helping to shape national initiatives, and, as chair of the East Kent Yachting Association, enabled local clubs and club committee members to have wider involvement with RYA programmes.

Hofmann also served four years as chair of the RYA London and South East regional committee.