RIP Judith Robertson
Published 21:19 on 26 Oct 2025
It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the passing of Honorary Life Member and former Sailing and Membership Secretary Judith Robertson, who died on 21 October aged 76.
Judith discovered sailing through her husband, past BSC Commodore and current Club Trustee Roger Robertson. Her first sailing experiences took place at Marconi Sailing Club, where she tried crewing an Enterprise. Always one to relish a new sporting challenge she soon became proficient and found herself in demand as a GP14 crew at Brightlingsea Sailing Club, where Roger was then racing Hornets. She initially crewed in GPs for Andy Ellis and went on to race for many years with Dave Warren, winning Pyefleet Week one year. In the mid 1990s Roger sold his Hornet, purchased a GP14, and persuaded Judith to team up with him - the start of what was to become a very successful sailing partnership.
As Roger got more involved in club administration, becoming Sailing Secretary in 1977, then Vice Commodore in 1979, and Commodore from 1981 to 1982, Judith played a huge supporting role. But she also took on key club posts in her own right where her professional background in banking IT combined with a can-do approach to life and a great sense of fun made her a hugely popular contributor in so many areas of club life.
Her first major role was as Sailing Secretary from 1979 to 1981, when Roger was Vice Commodore, and she also became an excellent Committee Boat Recorder, helping Roger to run many open meetings and a number of major championships.
Always happy to throw herself into things, Judith even made a solo parachute jump from Ipswich Airport in 1984, to help raise money for the first phase of the club's changing room refurbishments - breaking her ankle in the process when she overshot the landing area and ended up in a ploughed field!
In 1985 she took over the role of Membership Secretary, a post she was to fill for the next 25 years. The membership records she inherited consisted of large loose leaf binders containing individual handwritten record cards for every one of over 700 members. This was long before the internet, email or social media, so when news updates, AGM announcements, membership renewals or duty notifications needed to be circulated each envelope and covering letter had to be individually created.
After a year spent evaluating and understanding the multiple functions involved in the role, Judith put her IT expertise to work and built the club's first membership database. There were no proprietary club membership software packages at this time and the system Judith developed, using Access software, proved a huge success, automating and simplifying so many of the tasks involved.
As she began to step back from active dinghy racing, Judith took up golf, and once again she proved to be very capable, going on to become both Lady Captain and Ladies Secretary at Colchester Golf Club.
Judith remained a member of BSC throughout her life and continued to keep a watchful eye on the club's activities right up until the end. Her funeral will take place on Thursday 13 November at 13.00 at Colchester Crematorium and will be followed by a gathering at Colchester Golf Club.
Last updated 21:19 on 26 October 2025
