A DUDLEY sailing club welcomed a Royal visitor to help celebrate its recent successes.

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal visited Himley Hall Sailing Club yesterday (October 6) to congratulate the group for being one of the top five finalists for this year's Royal Yachting Association's Club of the Year award.

Princess Anne arrived at Himley Hall by helicopter before she was transferred by car to the lakeside marquees, where she met local dignitaries - including Dudley Mayor Councillor Steve Waltho and members, coaches, and friends of the club.

She observed a sailing lesson for pupils from Ellowes Hall Sports College and was impressed how the club was working with young people by putting sailing on the PE curriculum at the Stickley Lane school and introducing sailing to more than 100 disadvantaged youngsters as part of the West Midlands Sportivate initiative.

Jamie Degge, senior instructor and club commodore, said: “It’s good to be recognised for our youth work.

"Lots of children have sailed for the first time and enjoyed it."

He added that out of the 100 youngsters that took part in the initiative, only two "didn’t come back for more".

The only daughter of the Queen also unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit and was shown the club's new landing area, which was built by members.

The club's development officer Tony Sutton told her that "without the sterling efforts" of volunteers the club would not have been able to afford to have it done.