FRENSHAM Pond Sailing club is mourning the death of its most famous honorary member, the King of Thailand, this week.

In his younger years, King Bhumibol along with many of his family was a keen small boat sailor - favouring the single-handed OK class dinghy which was a popular racing design at Frensham in the 1960s.

On Tuesday, August 2, 1966, during an 11-week holiday to England and just three days after England lifted the World Cup at Wembley, the king made the first of several visits to the club.

He was joined by a 27-person entourage, including Queen Sirikit of Thailand, but insisted he was there incognito - not there as king, but only as a small boat racer who wanted to know how to go faster.

He was the current champion of the Thai OK class and wanted to take the opportunity to match his skill against some British OK sailors.

Three Frensham OKs were placed at the disposal of the Royal family and were helmed by King Bhumibol, Prince Vajiralongkorn and Princess Ubol Ratana.

The king returned to sail on the pond twice that September and, together with his aide-de-camp Admiral Diskul, was appointed honorary life members of the club.

King Bhumibol was keenly interested in the younger members and presented the club with a cheque for £100 for the encouragement of the younger members in sailing.

A cash sum has been bestowed every year since to the most promising young sailor at Frensham, known as the King of Thailand Trophy.

Jim Morley, club member, told The Herald this week: “All of us who met him will miss the king’s passing. He was a very nice man, a genuine sailor, with no royal pretension.”

Last year a Thai TV team came to Frensham and shot an account of the event.