Val Millward a talented and accomplished member of Mantra

I interviewed Val on a cold January evening early in 2010. I was interested in the background to her recent success in the Lincolnshire Sports Person of the Year and what drives her to succeed.

She told me that she was involved in a serious road accident when she was six years old when her leg was very badly damaged, which eventually had to be amputated at the age of sixteen. She went to College to train as a teacher and, whilst there, also trained and qualified as a Hockey umpire, tutored by the top English and Irish senior umpires.

Whilst visiting the Selly Oak Limb Centre for treatment, she was asked if she would like to go on a mixed sailing trip of disabled and able-bodied people on the Norfolk Broads. During this trip the interest in sailing was kindled.

Val moved around the country teaching in a number of different locations, ending up in Grantham. In the late Nineties, when she retired from teaching, Val decided to develop further her interest in sailing and spend more time on her hobby. Having good teaching and interpersonal skills, developed in her teaching role, and sailing skills acquired over many years, she became a valuable asset to Sailabiity (sail training for the disabled) at Rutland Water. Val moved effortlessly into the training and development of people new to sailing, becoming the Regional Organiser and Awareness Trainer for the East Midlands. One of her proudest moments was meeting Princess Anne, who presented her with an award at one of her many medal presentations. Val also sits on the Royal Yachting Association National Committee.

Val has competed at a number of European venues, in the USA and Singapore. She was invited to crew on the new two-man paralympic boat and, whilst not being selected to represent the Great Britain Paralympic team, she was very proud to have trained with and competed against those who were.

Val has sailed a challenger class boat for the last 10 years and now owns Red Jester, her pride and joy, which she sails every weekend and competes in most Sundays at Rutland Sailing Club. During 2009, Val was second in the United Kingdom Nationals and winner of the English Nationals in her Challenger.

“I have a boat which suits me and my limitations and am pleased to say that I can compete on level terms with able bodied sailors and often leave them in my wake,” she told me with a glint in her eye.

Val was nominated for Lincolnshire Sports Person of the Year 2009, a competition open to all disabled sportsmen and women across a range of activities, where she achieved an extremely creditable runner up position.

When I asked Val what was she most proud of and most important to her in her sport she said, “Being able to share my skills with other people and enabling those people to take part and enjoy sailing the way I do.”

Well done Val, we are all proud of your achievements.