A new boat has been launched at a local sailing club.

Up to sixty people braved icy winds to witness a new launch being named after a long-standing member of the Saltash Sailing Club.

Nancy Davy officially named the boat Herbie Davy with a bottle of champagne, after her late husband who had been an active member of the club since the late 1940’s.

Herbie was from a local family who had served in the RAF during the second world war as a rear gunner in the Lancaster 626 Squadron. He was awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French Government, their highest order of merit, for his part in helping to liberate France in 1944.

Nancy said: ‘This is an exciting day and a very moving occasion for the family. Herbie would have been very surprised, deeply honoured and tickled pink. He didn’t like the word gob-smacked…but he would have been gob-smacked! Thank you for honouring his name in this way.’

Trevor Bardwell-Jones who organised the day explained that the club has always provided safety boats in support of community events such as the regatta but had nothing to use for general purpose within the club.

He continued: ‘This new launch will be used to ferry members of the club to their yachts for races and other sailing events.’