PETER DOBBS - ACCOMPLISHED SAILOR AND CHANDLER
In his self-effacing way, Peter Dobbs (19202008) was active in many areas of Irish life afloat. He was a son of the rectory. His father a Church of Ireland canon was the incumbent at Blackrock, Co Dublin. After schooling in England, Peter read divinity at Trinity College Dublin, but did not follow the ministry in the C of I for which he seemed destined. His most memorable role in Trinity was active involvement in the early years of Dublin University Sailing Club he had been sailing from an early age.
A chest condition precluded the active service he sought in the British Army in World War II, but his work in London with refugee agencies brought to a period of duty in the Belsen Concentration Camp in Germany, after 1945, an experience which coloured the rest of his life.
Returning to Ireland, he resumed sailing, teaming up with his friend from college days Teddy Croxon to race in the newly-established Firefly class in Dun Laoghaire. They were a successful duo, winning the George Arthur Newsome Memorial Cup for the most successful boat three years in a row. Until then it had been almost unknown for a dinghy to win the Newsome Cup, and three on the trot was unprecedented. But in typically self-deprecating style, Peter always called Fireflies cots, and DBSC became Dublin Say Bailing Club.
Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive
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News From the Afloat.ie Archive
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