Time
time is a healer, so they say,
But time won't make the pain go away.
Time took a great man from under our nose,
And whisked him away, to where great men go.
It only seems a couple of years, Since the prime of his youth,
Driving his Roadster with the softtop roof.
Simon and Garfunkel blasting the air,
He drove us around with pride, and with care.
Since time took him, I've rewound his life,
Replaying the highlights, time and again,
The only bits missing, his suffering and pain.
Time went too quickly, until you went away,
But now its slowed to a stop, and each hour feels like a day.
You were loved by so many, who came into your life,
And till time brings us back together, we'll say our goodbyes.
Stay with us Dad, like you promised you would,
Sit on our shoulders, and help us be good,
Enjoy yourself - I know that you will,
And for us? please don't worry,
They say time will heal.
Alex
|
ACE
To me he was an ace,
When I looked upon his face,
I loved him so much,
I wish I had his hand to clutch.
Every time I went to see,
He was my Grandad, he spent time with me.
'I've got a big bone in that leg,' he said,
But now that legs tucked up in bed.
I will see you again, I said to him,
You are my Grandad, You are my ace.
Emma Walker
|
Father, Son, Granddad and Friend
You taught me how to sail a boat
How tell tails work when we're afloat
How sitting out could help us win
And bring home many pots of tin
You taught Alex how, to drive a car
You didn't make it very far
Before you decided, better still
Get in the Pro's and foot the bill
You challenged Martin Paul to beat you
The prize… your pride & Joy
It took a while, but in the end you had to say goodbye
(I'm sure it made you very proud, despite the tear in your eye).
I'm thinking now of our Gran
Who watched you grow from boy to man
You sheltered her from all that pain
And now she's standing in the rain
Becky, Emma, Harry too, are sad to see you go
Their Granddad was the very best
They thought you'd like to know.
Your friends will miss your happy face
An air of quiet about the place
Your dancing style (not seen before)
Will stay with them forever more.
For forty years you stood by me
(`cept when you put me over your knee.)
I can't believe you won't be there
For precious times I'd like to share
Your heart slowed down and then it ceased
You fell asleep, you went in peace
We stayed with you, right to the end
Father, Son, Granddad & Friend
Sarah
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Henry Collen - Posted in the Wayfarer News.
Martin Collen has to be one of the grittiest and staunchest supporters of Wayfarer racing the class has known, truly one of the class's great characters. I had been aware of those craggy, then bearded, features since my early days on the racing circuit in the early 1980's, when we could only ever get a rear view of his beloved `Pieces of Eight' with W88 proudly emblazoned on the sail.
I never realised that the enigmatic UTSC on the transom would later come to mean a lot more to me. For when job demands tore me kicking and screaming from the Medway environs to live in Hertfordshire, it was Martin who caught us into the Upper Thames SC fold when we happened to stray there for a look. By then, Martin had been the mainstay of UTSC's thriving Wayfarer fleet for many years; we were hooked. Sailing at Upper Thames as many people know is `something else', a different branch of sailing altogether, where the light zephyrs swirl and eddy around the river, setting numerous traps as you battle against the stream. But Martin had it sorted, it seemed to be in the blood. It was a rare day when anyone could get near him, let alone pass him as he seemed to be at one with the conditions.
Through his mentorship and encouragement throughout the '80 and `90s the Wayfarer fleet flourished and became more and more competitive. Of course the attractions of UTSC were not just the sailing but the club itself. The delightful position on the river, the warmth of the bar, his acerbic wit played out at social events, all this was home to Martin, he could never be happier anywhere. Martin was a key person… as Chief Wayfarer Measurer for many years, as UTSC Commodore for three years, as many times race officer of Open Meetings and Bourne End week. He took all these responsibilities very seriously, enthusiastically leading from the front. As fellow UTSC member John Holdsworth recalls “Martin was a great upholder of traditions of excellence. Being in the race box with him, for example, could be a bit of a nightmare. One very windy day during a Queen's Cup race, the race flags were being broken out by the gusts , causing chaos and consternation to the race officers, I had the temerity to hoist one flag flying, and can still hear Martin's voice in my ear growling `We don't do things like that at UTSC'”
Martin must also have passed something to his son Martin-Paul. He set the enticing challenge to his son that he would pass on W88 to him as soon as he could beat him. It must have a proud moment when that time eventually came; he must have been even more proud to see how M-P has picked up the reins and is now one of the top Wayfarer sailors.
Martin will be missed, but fondly remembered by everyone in the Wayfarer fleet
Ray Scragg W7698 Blue Jay
|
UPPER THAMES SAILING CLUB
Speech given by The Commodore, Roger Cooper, before the two minutes silence
on Remembrance Sunday 2002
MARTIN HENRY COLLEN
As we are gathered here this morning to remember those who gave their lives in the service
of their country, I think it is appropriate that we also pay tribute to Martin Henry Collen
who died early yesterday morning, after a long and gallant fight with kidney disease
Martin was a true servant of this club, and one who held it's highest office as
Commodore from 1989 to 1991.
Martin was always a friend, a constant source of encouragement and advice,
and an unsurpassed enthusiast for this sport of sailing.
I am sad today. But at the same time glad, that in his final year, Martin was able to take
a full part in this season's events as our Principal Race Officer, and only last
Sunday be present at our AGM.
Our thoughts today must be with his partner, Liz, his daughters Sarah & Alex, his son Martin-Paul,
his grandchildren, his mother Molly, and his first wife June.
Martin Henry - we will miss you - and we will remember you.
|
The man that I knew - a tribute to Martin Henry.
I first met Martin some 28 years ago when we joined UTSC. Martin and his family had joined a about the same time as we did. I remember being very impressed with his brand new Wayfarer, `Bulugalug'.
He quickly became involved with teaching the club youngsters how to sail. It is a credit to him that many still are sailing 25 years later, and doing it very well. During this period, which lasted several years, he was at the club almost every Saturday afternoon, reminding the little darlings, that whatever catastrophe had just befallen them, that, `Sailing is FUN'.
During this period he became qualified, first as an RYA Instructor and then a Senior Instructor. We went together to Queen Mary Reservoir and amongst other things learnt to sail a boat without the rudder. We soon learnt that the way to do this was to lean the boat one way or the other to make it turn, but the difference between us was that Martin knew which way the boat would turn.
He was not only generous with his time, but in other ways. He applied himself to improving his level of sailing skill, with considerable success. Moving up the fleet, he became the man to beat in club races, and then moved onto the Wayfarer circuit with great success, and ultimately performed well at national and international events. And unlike many good competitors, he enjoyed sharing his expertise with those around him.
I was always convinced that he only sailed fast because he had the better boat, so we swapped boats from time to time. I was always amazed how fast my boat went when he was at the helm!
It is probably an exaggeration to say that he put UTSC on the map, but he undoubtedly improved its reputation. And such was his personality that the people he sailed against on the circuit wanted to come back to his club a sail against him there.
He was a fun companion to be with and I can remember many a social evening with him, in the bar after sailing, club social evenings, barbeques at his home, and so on, all involving, I recall, a modest element of alcohol. Club social events will be missing something now that Martin is not there to `take wine with'.
As far as work went, I was never too sure exactly what he did for a living, something to do with building I believe. As contracts finished he would face a period of unemployment, but he was always positive about the situation, and used the down time productively. I admired his optimism during these periods
The last piece of advice that I received from Martin was at this year's AGM, just over two weeks ago. It was to `put a sock in it', advice that I will now take. A generous, humorous man, a fun companion. Martin Henry, the man that I knew, son, father, grandfather, husband, partner, sailor, Wayfarer helm par excellence, measurer, ordinary member, class captain, flag officer, Commodore, ordinary member again - and friend, you will be missed.
Bruce James
20th November 2002
|