Vance Broad
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These are a few of my favourite things!
Seeing a child, or adult for that matter, discovering something interesting for the first time. Creating something new and interesting. The pleasure of movement - sailing, land yachting, flying, swimming, running, dancing, diving, driving, climbing, cycling, boxing, 4 x 4 off road driving, horse-riding, bungy jumping off Storms River Bridge, flying a light aircraft around Gower (a Cessna 2 seater) or simply walking. The pleasure of a smile in a woman's sparkling eyes and the pleasure of being surrounded by friends. The pleasure of being able to sit on a mountain top and see great distances, of reading maps and charts. The pleasure of theatre-going, eating out, dinners by candle light, picnics (especially in Botanical Gardens such as Kirstenbosch, on Signal Hill and Devil's Peak and on Cefn Bryn or anywhere on Gower) with an interesting woman. Family braiis, listening to Cape Talk or BBC Radio 4, making new friends, classical music recitals and concerts, rock music, foreign travel, digital photography and computer drawing (especially the effects of light on water), theme parks and fair ground rides, cinema, art galleries, going out for a drink (usually Durban Cape To Rio, Seven Seas or Mainstay Cane, Bacardi or any white rum mixed with Coca-Cola), reading, refereeing, coaching and watching rugby, keeping fit, diving with great whites in Hermanus (in a cage....I'm not that stupid), spinning for fish, especially Chad and Yellowtail, and going out walking the cliff paths and shore lines of Gower and Cape Town - especially at dawn and sunset ....with a camera in hand...oh..... and cooking for friends and relaxing by the pool and sometimes ......painting.
Biography
Lived most of my early life on a beach, going to school in sandy Sandfields, Port Talbot, South Wales, U.K. Attended Sandfields Comprehensive School and played First XV rugby (I was the 15 year old above the dark blazered head of P.E. - the perceptive Mr Ken Jones). Joined the British Schools' Exploring Society's expedition to the Arctic aged 18. Fine Art honours degree, Leeds College of Art (now the Faculty of Art & Design, Leeds Metropolitan University). Post Graduate Teacher's Certificate (Art Teacher's Certificate) Education Department, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. Went to school in Bridgend, Aberdare, Margam, Southampton, Cardiff, Gosport and the Swansea Valley, teaching art as head of department in several large comprehensive schools, one secondary modern school and one independent grammar school. January 2000 left school to join the real world, teaching sailing in a voluntary capacity at a sailing school in Mumbles.
Sailing Experience
Crewed an Osprey dinghy (as a school boy) at B.S.C.S.C. reservoir, Margam. Attended teachers sailing courses at Rhos-y-Gwalia Outdoor Pursuits Centre, Lake Bala, North Wales (Mid Glamorgan Education Authority's satellite Outdoor Pursuits Centre) 1973/4. Teacher in charge of regattas King Edward VI Independent Grammar School, Southampton 1978 (Head of Art & Design). Teachers sailing courses at Itchen, Southampton, 1978-80. Voluntary RYA Instructor at Calshot Activities Centre, Solent, 1980. RYA Senior Instructor Award, Arctic Road, Cowes, 1982. Organiser of Hampshire schools sailing courses at Calshot Activities Centre1982- 1984. Royal Yachting Association Southern Region Race Training Co-ordinator (Solent) 1984 - 1986 (...initiated a Royal Yachting Association Scholarship Programme for young sailors, enlisting southern marine industries). Initiated the Royal Yachting Association Young Sailors Scheme at the 1983 Crystal Palace Boat Show meeting of 13 RYA Regional Race Training Co-ordinators chaired by Jim Saltonstall (although my original proposition was to use Topper not Optimist dinghies). My idea, following on from the scholarship programme that had enlisted the support of many Hampshire maritime organisations, was launched at Weston Sailing Club, Southampton, in the summer of 1986, with Simon Le Bon as a 'figure-head' and Lombard Tricity as a sponsor. To date, millions of youngsters all over the U.K., and now all over the world, have been introduced to sailing as a result of this scheme and similar copy-cat schemes. Appointed RYA South Wales Regional Race Training Co-ordinator 1986 - 1988. Started as a voluntary instructor with Mumbles Sailing School at Mumbles, Gower in 1989. The school has the lowest fees in the UK .....proceeds are ploughed back into the hobby (leisure activity).
My Most Dangerous Experiences
As a teenage lifeguard on Aberavon Beach, got called out with Robbie Phillips (now a much in demand private swimming instructor in South Wales) and Mike Brown (later to become Mr Wales) in a storm, to swim a line for a Breecher's Buoy, to a beached dredger (rockets had failed against the wind). The undertow beneath the dredger caught all three of us when we came alongside to tread water. We probably broke all records swimming back to Aberavon Beach. We hadn't stopped to consider the task that the Beach Manager, Mr Graham Jenkins (Richard Burton's brother) had asked us to execute. Although it would have made a hell of a headline - "Three Teenagers Rescue Ship".
Philosophy
Religion, ethics, morality and legality are predicated by geography and culture and culture is nothing more than a list of things that we can do that monkeys can't. Life is full of waiting solutions, not insoluble problems and it is fun finding the creative solution. I am unashamedly up-front and avoid people who are not. I confront things head on, wear my heart on my sleeve, hate losing, hate deceit, distrust people with good intentions and value people for what they do and not for what they promise! I keep my promises and that is why I am very economical about making them. Nothing is forever. The greatest mistake that can be made is to be afraid to make a mistake. Make as many mistakes as you need, but not the same mistake twice.
Seeing potential in people, I am often compelled to try to bring out 'the best' (often to my cost ....a teacher for too long I guess?). I hate losing anything, even if I know it's useless, but I don't mind giving it away or throwing it away ......that's my choice. I hate it when circumstances steal away your right to choose. The capacity for choice makes and keeps us human. I try to respect other peoples' choices, even if I don't always agree with those choices, as choosing allows us to become individuals. People often mistake my quest for the best as setting too high a standard .....and being too critical, but I realise that any person who requires someone to do better than their best is a fool. I expect that I and others should give their best and no more than that!
I am a sailor. I loved nothing better than sailing my Miura 31' single-handed around Robben Island with dolphins diving on my bow, to be met by a black South Easter blowing strong as I beat up from Blaubergstrand towards Parden Eiland to meet the wind as it poured like a grey table cloth off Table Mountain.. Sailors tend to go with the flow and realise full well that it's no good trying to make nature do something which isn't intended. As a Capricorn, a sailor, a father of 3 sons, a jilted husband and an ex art teacher, you might appreciate that I am a complete believer in sustained improvisation - in being prepared for the unexpected but always ready to 'wing it', to meet the challenge as opportunities allow. I'm not cynical and I enjoy life. Fun is fundamental to human survival and it's no use hankering after things that have gone. Sailors always keep a weather eye open and meet trouble head-on. Humans hunt with eyes facing forward and only rabbits, sheep, fish and low-in-the-food-chain grazers and vegetarians should feel the need to keep looking back over their shoulders.
A loving, homely atmosphere is a good foundation for happiness through fun, but both love and success inevitably involve sacrifice, risk and hard work. Successful relationships are those in which sacrifice is more important than self fulfilment, remembering that success is only truly measured against that which was sacrificed in the achievement. Disagreements are inevitable, but in those disagreements, dealing only with the present and not resurrecting the past is always a positive way forward. To respect yourself, to respect others and to act responsibly at all times, leads to a worthwhile life. In living a good and honourable life, you will enjoy that life all over again in later years of reflection. In those years, sharing your knowledge, your experience and your love, you will be remembered well.
Make each day count; be seen and heard and take time to taste, feel and smell life all around you in order to be completely alive. Remember the seven characteristics of living things and give your body enough, and no more, of what it needs to live and satisfy those seven requirements. Remember, ensure no innocents get hurt by what you do and always make time to repair the hurt that will be done by you in life.
A Sailor's Way
When things get tough, fill your lungs, brace yourself and keep a good hold to meet the storm bows on, to break through that much sooner to the calmer waters that wait beyond. Fair winds will eventually fetch you to a safe shore but keep a weather eye open for trouble, have a mind for what's in the offing and give plenty of leeway when bearing up and holding off. If someone is over bearing, stay aloof to prevent the wind being taken from your sails, but don't sail so close to the wind as to be taken aback. Don't gripe and keep a firm hand on the helm. By and large is always better than cutting it fine and being put about. A short tack in a couple of shakes will bring you out from being under the weather to put a new slant on things.
She who is held choke-a-block won't we'ar it, but overhaul her blocks and give her a good dressing down when she's running free and she'll stay true and in good order. Turn a blind eye to petty signals and stave off trouble when it pulls alongside. Put a warning shot across the bows of those intent on stealing your wind and hit them with a full broadside if they fail to shove off. Have no truck with wasters and lead swingers but stay above the rest, aloft and above board.
Start each day with a clean slate.
So long (a sailor's farewell borrowed from Salaam) and may your God go with you.
