Dennis Skillicorn
Broadcaster Dennis Skillicorn was the first journalist to be embedded on a round the world race yacht, bringing alive the trials, triumphs and tribulations of watch routines and rushing downwind through plumes of spray. He joined the crew of Creighton’s Naturally in the 1985/6 Whitbread round the World Race and later aboard the British Steel Challenge yacht Commercial Union Assurance.
Creighton’s Naturally was one of the last to finish, but with Dennis reporting live from the Needles all the way to the finish line in Southampton Water, the yacht received the biggest welcome home. After that, the potential for embedding a journalist within the crew was fully appreciated and led to the video feeds that now reach our computers every day from the current Volvo Ocean Race yachts.
Ali McKichan, a crewmember on Commercial Union Assurance during the 1992/3 British Steel Challenge, recalls the warm, kind-hearted side of Dennis Skillicorn’s character. “He always had an amusing story to get us through the long night watches. I particularly loved it when it was his role to wake the ongoing watch. Unlike others, Dennis would say softly. “Good morning Ma’am. The sun is shining, the wind is fair and I have a wonderful cooked breakfast ready for you in the saloon” – all delivered in that beautiful lilting voice of his. We all knew none of it was true, but it definitely made it easier getting out of our bunks!”
Born in 1932, Dennis grew up the Northwest shipbuilding town of Burrow-in-Furness and began an apprenticeship there until called up to do his National Service in the Royal Navy. Much of his time was spent working in Portsmouth Dockyard and he stayed rooted in the South of England for the rest of his life. It was through the Navy that he first got his taste for travel.
When the BBC tried to introduce a retirement policy at the age of 75, Dennis joined a group of fellow pensioners to form ‘The Zimmers’ to voice the feelings of isolation and imprisonment suffered by the elderly. They recorded a cover version of The Who’s ‘My Generation’ at the famous Abby Road studios in London and the record climbed to No 26 in the UK Singles Chart in May 2007 Go to: youtube.com/watch?v=zqfFrCUrEbY
His last interview, conducted at the age of 80, was with the Duke of Edinburgh. The two got on so well that Dennis ended up helping Prince Philip mend ornaments while they chatted.
Dennis Skillicorn’s extensive library of radio interviews and broadcasts has been saved for posterity and will be archived at the Wessex Film and Sound Archive based in Winchester. www3.hants.gov.uk/wfsa.htm
Dennis is survived by his two children Jane and Roger and two grandchildren. He died peacefully on December 21st surrounded by family and close friends. His funeral will take place at Romsey Crematorium at 16:00 on Wednesday 10th January. Barry Pickthall – Chairman of the Yachting Journalists’ Association
The full obituary at scuttlebutteurope.com
