The Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin who was killed in Syria on Wednesday, February 21 was an active member of the London Corinthian Sailing Club, based on the Upper Mall, and had many friends in West London.

Shocked members and friends paid tribute to her after hearing the news, and recalled how she had recently purchased an Enterprise dinghy, Guinness, and had looked forward to sailing this on her return.

The President of the club, Beverley Lawrence Beech said Marie Colvin would be sorely missed.

"In between assignments she sailed at the Club and became a friend of many of us, sharing a feminist philosophy, a passion for sailing and a wry sense of humour. Last year, she bought Guinness (an Enterprise dinghy) from Liz St Clair and we were looking forward to sailing with her once she returned from Syria."

Another member commented that the club had lost one of its " great characters".

"Marie has been involved with the club for many years and is known and loved my many of us. With boundless enthusiasm, a huge sense of fun and a bank of incredible stories we have lost one of the club's great characters. Marie was a regular crew member on Nisida and had just returned to dinghy sailing on the River. I know she was really looking forward to sailing Guinness on a regular basis."

The Club, which was founded in 1894 is based at the Georgian Linden House along the Upper Mall.

A veteran war correspondant, Marie had lost the sight in one eye from shrapnel while covering conflict in Sri Lanka in 2001. The American-born journalist, who was aged in her 50s, died while trying to escape after shelling hit the makeshift press centre where she and other journalists had been sheltering in the Baba Amr district of Homs.

The city has been under siege from the forces of President Assad since February 4th. A French journalist, Remi Ochlik ( 28) was also killed and a British photographer wounded in the attack which also killed dozens of local Syrian people.

 

February 24, 2012