There doesn't seem to be much that Jim Brown can't turn his hand to when it comes to brightening up East Lancashire Sailing Club.

For Jim has become something of a DIY demon around the picturesque club on the outskirts of Rishton -- although he admits it was a position he more or less stumbled across.

"It was a case of saying the right thing at the wrong time and suddenly I was the man for the job," joked Jim.

"We have a laugh now and tell new members to keep quiet about what they can do or they'll get roped in."

Jim learnt the hard way of the benefits of keeping his mouth shut for after suggesting the changing rooms were in urgent need of repair a number of years ago -- for he is now been firmly established as the club's handy man.

He added: "I like to dabble in DIY but this is what happens when you have a practical skill!"

But joking aside that is exactly how the club is maintained with all the members using their respective skills, pulling together and in the process saving themselves a small fortune.

"There is a great camaraderie at the club and there are quite a few who muck in to carry out the work that has to be done.

"It is the only way we could afford to do it."

However, Jim more than most likes to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in -- and takes great satisfaction in seeing a job well done.

"When you restore something that was once dilapidated it gives you great pleasure.

"The club members appreciate the work you do and that makes it all worth while."

But it is by no means a one man job and Jim has worked closely with senior committee member Bernard Donnelly and Mike Cussans over the years to get the sailing club ship-shape.

"I would hate to think that I was taking the glory.

"A lot of people but in a lot of hard work at the club, especially Bernard and Mike."

From those days when Jim suggested the changing rooms needed a lick of paint the rest, as they say, is history.

For in that time, Jim has turned his hand to anything from painting the front gate to working on the landing stages.

But there is more to Jim than being the Odd Job Man -- or to give it its correct title Maintenance and Projects Officer.

For Jim, who is mechanical engineering lecturer at Accrington and Rossendale College, is also the club's joint principal sailing trainer.

Another string to his bow and another job that gives him immense satisfaction.

"Sailing is not the sort of sport you pick up immediately.

"It does take time to get use to it and in a lot of respects overcome the fear of working on water on a boat that is moving all over the place.

"But when you see a youngster get to grips with sailing, when the penny finally drops, then it is a great feeling."

Jim has worked closely with fellow sailing training Robin Tomlinson ever since the club became established as a Royal Yachting Association teaching school.

The club gained its RYA teaching accreditation in 1989 after Jim and Robin proved themselves as creditable teachers.

He added: "We had to sit our levels one to five before we became senior instructors.

"Then the RYA came to inspect the club and make sure we had the suitable equipment.

"They now come once a year to inspect the club."

Over the past 20 years, the club, under the guidance of Jim and Robin, have produced a string of very good sailors who have gone on to compete on the national stage.

"That is very rewarding," added Jim.

"Knowing a youngster who has come to the club with no sailing ability has gone on to compete at the highest stage.

"We do our bit on the club before they move on to be coached by national coaches."

Jim is a keen sailor himself although he openly admits he is never one to be among the honours.

"I love sailing but I don't really win anything in the club championships."

Jim currently owns a Laser and Laser Two and, true to form, he is currently restoring an old Flying 15 which dates back to 1961.

Another of his responsibilities as Maintenance and Project officer is to help attract funding to the club which dates back to the 1950s.

And that has proved successful as well as Jim has helped attract funding from the Foundation for Sport and Arts and Sport for All to pay for many of the projects that club has carried out in recent years.

The club is not one to rest on its laurels and Jim is already busy planning the next project -- and that is to brighten up the car park.

"It might not be as important as building a new jetty or landing pay but the car park is one of the first things visitors see when the come here so it is important to get it right."

Jim said it is a good time to be involved in the club and numbers have steadily risen in recent years.

The club currently has around 60 members but not has many as the boom time of the wind surfing years.

"Our membership seemed to double over night," recalled Jim.

"Wind surfing was the big sport and everyone seemed to want to take part.

"However, once people got the hang of it they wanted more excitement and headed for the coast.

"That is when the numbers began to fall away."

The club bounced back from the fall away of the windsurfers largely built on a growing reputation of being a place for all the family.

Jim is also quick to point out that sailing is not a sport for the elite.

"You can pick up a boat nowadays for as cheap as an expensive pair of football boots.

"We are quick to banish the notion that you need a lot of money to take up sailing.

"If anyone is interested you can always get around it.

"But you can guarantee that if you get hooked you will soon be out there looking to buy your own boat."

Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Robin Tomlinson on 01254 249324 or Jim Brown on 01254 392687.

Take a look at their site...