Tom Vaughan, the English class historian whose International 14 history booklet is still the most comprehensive history of the class, has died, age 92. I never met him but his meticulous research and love of the International 14 class has always inspired me. God bless.
From an email...
Dear all,
I’m afraid to say that Tommy Vaughan died yesterday at the grand old age of 92. He had been in and out of hospital for the past couple of months but was at home when he died, surrounded by his family, which is exactly what he wanted.
Please can you pass on this news to other old 14’ers who would be interested and not included on this email – thank you.
There is likely to be a memorial service in Warblington (Near Emsworth) in a couple of weeks and if anyone would like more details, do please let me know.
Best wishes,
James Vaughan
My 14 skipper from my teenage crewing days, John Hsu, sends along these recollections of Tom Vaughan.
"I first met T.J. Vaughan in 1976 when I was in London for a medical meeting. I went to his office (studio), as he was in advertising. He was a gentleman with a friendly and charming disposition. He took me to lunch at a restaurant near Selfridge’s. His office had a lot of pictures (in those days, mainly black and white) of 14s and he was compiling a history of the International Fourteen, which later came out as a book, revised several times of which I have the 1964 and 1989 versions. That book gives the history of the 14s and together with the DVD that the National Maritime Museum made, should be read and seen by all modern 14ers, no matter what type of boat they have or where they race.
"It is of further interest that the extremely well illustrated book: The International 14 1928-1964 had 76 pages and the photographs were black and white, whereas the 1928-1989 edition cover showed color photographs of the ‘14’ sailed with 2 trapezes
"T.J. Vaughan had sailed a 14 for many years and I believe his last boat was a McCutcheon Kirby IV. It had been sailed in POW races and also as a Classical 14 when the class rules allowed 2 trapezes. This boat was a wood 14, varnished and meticulously kept.
"The Dinghy Year Book edited by Richard Creagh-Osborne kept information about all the dinghy classes that sailed in Great Britain but also had references to some of those sailed in the British Commonwealth and around the world. It is my belief that in the 1990s, Mr. Vaughn took over this task and published his results in British yachting journals. The ‘14’ was always the standard that other classes were compared to, despite the fact that at some POW [Prince of Wales Cup - ed.] there were less than 60 boats entered and at other dinghy class regattas, the fleet was over 200 boats.
"It was a great privilege for me to have met this gentleman and I hope that others who have also done so, could also contribute some comments.
John D. Hsu, M.D., F.A.C.S.
KC34, KC223, US801, US756, US901, US961, US981, US1001
Downey, California, USA
Cheaspeake 14'er from days of yore, Tom Price, sends along his recollections (which was in a comment I brought into the main post).
I crewed for Tommy Vaughan in the POW at Torquay back in the 1970s. Afterwards he wrote a delightful story called "Real Neat" about our experience. (apparently he was amused by my American expression "neat"). My initial disappointment of being kicked off my Team Race skipper's, Bob Reeves boat in favor of his wife, Peggy, to sail with Tommy disappeared at my first glimpse of his lovely daughter, Sarah. I was smitten immediately, and later got to sail (and win) at Rickmansworth with her crewing. I digress....
We had a wonderful time racing the POW but for a broken lower rudder fitting putting us out. He really wanted to win the Old Goats prize.
Tom was a wonderful man to have sailed with and I kept in touch with him off and on over the years. I was touched - to tears actually, to hear that he had kept a drawing I did for him of us sailing, and had it with him when he passed away. I have a signed copy of the History of the Fourteen Class Handbook that he gave me. It's well thumbed and I treasure it.
After hearing of Tommy's demise, I am re reading "Nicholas Monsarrat's "The Cruel Sea". Tommy never really spoke of it but he served (commanded?) a Corvette in the North Atlantic convoy duty. That was tough duty - rolly, little ships that bore the brunt of ensuring that Britain received the lifeline of supplies from America.
Read the "Cruel Sea" sometime if you never have - it's one of the finest sea stories. Tom Vaughan was there.
I crewed for Tommy Vaughan in the POW at Torquay back in the 1970s. Afterwards he wrote a delightful story called "Real Neat" about our experience. (apparently he was amused by my American expression "neat"). My initial disappointment of being kicked off my Team Race skipper's, Bob Reeves boat in favor of his wife, Peggy, to sail with Tommy disappeared at my first glimpse of his lovely daughter, Sarah. I was smitten immediately, and later got to sail (and win) at Rickmansworth with her crewing. I digress....
ReplyDeleteWe had a wonderful time racing the POW but for a broken lower rudder fitting putting us out. He really wanted to win the Old Goats prize.
Tom was a wonderful man to have sailed with and I kept in touch with him off and on over the years. I was touched - to tears actually, to hear that he had kept a drawing I did for him of us sailing, and had it with him when he passed away. I have a signed copy of the History of the Fourteen Class Handbook that he gave me. It's well thumbed and I treasure it.
After hearing of Tommy's demise, I am re reading "Nicholas Monsarrat's "The Cruel Sea". Tommy never really spoke of it but he served (commanded?) a Corvette in the North Atlantic convoy duty. That was tough duty - rolly little ships that bore the brunt of ensuring that Britain received the lifeline of supplies from America. Read the Cruel Sea sometime if you never have - it's one of the finest sea stories. Tom was there.
TP