by Emma Grove

Members of a sailing club have given their heartfelt thanks to the people of Sheppey after winning a public vote for a grant of more than £40,000.

The Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club was featured on the Meridian News for ITV's The People's Millions on Monday evening.

The club was competing against a school project from Snodland for a grant of £41,171 and had been encouraging Islanders to pick up the phone and vote for them.

Up until noon on Tuesday, members of the club were still in the dark as to whether they had been successful.

A camera crew from Meridian arrived at the club in Marine Parade, Sheerness, to break the news, and Tim Harris, life Rear Commodore House, said they only knew they had won when they saw the giant cheque.

The club bid for the money to launch their Sailability project, and the cash will be used to improve the club's facilities for disabled people, upgrade the shower and changing room areas and continue its training for young people.

Members and friends of the club will be celebrating their win at the end-of-season Laying Up Supper on Saturday.

Tim Bell, honorary life Rear Commodore, said they were overwhelmed by the support the Island has shown them.

He said: "It's absolutely fantastic and I'm really, really pleased.
"It shows what a fantastic community Sheppey is.

"The Sheerness Times Guardian was fantastic and pulled out every stop to give us the best possible publicity.

"My thanks also to MP Gordon Henderson, Swale council, Mad Mike Young, BRFM, Chris and Geof Reed of Big Fish Arts, Sue Percival and Tesco, the Sheppey Sea Cadets, and the many shop-keepers in the High Street, all the clubs and pubs, and schools and so many more organisations that helped, and of course everybody that voted and supported us.

"Thank you all so much."

• The club's success was broadcast on Meridian on Tuesday night.