After an age in the PW sector, and tremendously busy year acting as Executive Director of the PWP, Chris Neville-Parry was rewarded for his work in furthering safety in the sport at the Marine Engine and Equipment Manufacturers annual dinner in January.

Mr Neville-Parry was presented with the Mik Randle Memorial Award by Howard Pridding of the British Marine Federation. The award is presented annually by the marine industry to an individual who has made a major contribution to watercraft safety and training.

On receiving the award Chris said: “To receive this award, in memory of such a close friend and colleague, is a tremendous honour. The success of the PWP, by all of us working together as a partnership, has been incredible. The partnership exists not just within the industry but extends also to the clubs, authorities, government agencies and riders we have worked together with.”

“With regards to training the RYA have reported a 27per cent increase in the number of PW proficiency certificates issued in the last year. The number of riders trained actually exceeded the number of new craft bought, which is extremely encouraging. Really, I should thank all those who attended an RYA training course last year, it certainly helps me to demonstrate to local and national authorities the responsible manner in which participants approach the sport.”

During his speech Chris also announced that for the first time ever, a PW representative had been invited to join the RYA Council. In the leisure marine sector the influence and respect held by the RYA Council is considerable and cannot be underestimated. The aim of the RYA is to promote and protect the interests of recreational boaters and some of this work is done by working with (or against!) the government on national policies, right down to assisting in local issues. The fact that PW as a sport now have a representative with Chris’s experience on such a prestigious council is a big boost for the sport as a whole.

Kindly reproduced with permission from: © 2005, www.JetSkier.co.uk