Peter Campbell Honoured for Dedication to Sail Training

Magda Makowska, Race Director of the Tall Ships Races for Sail Training International, presented Peter with the well deserved Award at the organisations annual conference last weekend.

Peter’s involvement with sail training began in the early 1990s, where he first crewed on Swan, continuing for many years as secretary and Trustee of the Swan Trust. His contributions included active participation in Tall Ships Races, Small Ships Races, and Nordisk Seilas, laying the foundations of a lifelong commitment to sail training.

When Sail Training Shetland was founded in 2009, Peter was appointed as its first Secretary and, from 2011 to 2023, served with distinction as Chair.

Peter’s earlier professional career was in education, where he served as a headteacher before taking on senior governance roles, including Chair of the Shetland College Board and member of the University of the Highlands and Islands. His expertise in education definitely had an influence on his keenness to support and mentor young people throughout his work in sail training. He also served as local councillor and representative on the board of Lerwick Port Authority for 10 years, strengthening his interest and role in marine industries.

A dedicated member of the Rotary Club, Peter has championed opportunities for young people to share their sail training experiences, securing funding and raising awareness of the personal development benefits of such opportunities.

Peter has shown unwavering commitment to supporting young people, whether by crewing alongside them, checking in on their progress with placements, or taking a close interest in ensuring candidates are matched to the right ships. He spends hours in planning, consistently preparing for the next round of placements, charting sailing routes, and generating new ideas to broaden horizons.

He played an instrumental role in building relationships with vessels that formed a smaller fleet for the Nordic Sail series; providing continuity when Swan was unable to attend the Tall Ships Races. His dedication to enabling young people to fulfil their potential through sail training has been evident in every aspect of his work.

Peter has also been responsible for supporting numerous nominations of young people for recognition, with every nomination he has submitted being successful.

Melanie Henderson, Chair of Sail Training Shetland, said: “This award is so well deserved, with Peter dedicating many years to ensuring young people can access the opportunities and rewards of a Sail Training experience. He is a founding member and core part of our committee, having held positions of both Secretary and Chair. His knowledge, network and experience are a great asset, and testament to his unwavering dedication to providing the best experiences possible for our young people.”