Alan & Terry Ryall
A love story about us
A Restless Optimist
Alan’s take on a life well spent, a love for life and a lifetime of love.
That’s how I describe myself when doing the “if you were a brand” what words would describe you exercise. And it’s true, in my career I’ve left good jobs in the belief there is something more interesting. I’ve changed the way we do things not because they are not working but because I believe there is always a better way if only we can find it. I travel not because I don’t like where I am but because I believe I will find new, memorable places. I discover new music not because I’m tired of the artists I know, it’s just there are others I might love just as much. Some of those decisions I’ve come to regret others have brought me joy
My life has been defined by that restlessness, the glance towards the horizon, the need to keep looking and yet….
It’s now well over 40 years since Terry burst into my life and I realized I would never find anyone I could love more deeply or wanted to be with for longer or cared for more.
So I stopped looking. It was the brightest decision of my life and one I have never regretted.
We met in autumn 1980 in a seedy Coventry UK nightclub (long story) with seemingly nothing in common. Any one with any sense would have written it off as a relationship going nowhere - thankfully neither of us displayed any sense. For a while it was simply that Alan had an expense account and Terry doesn't cook so everything revolved around dinner. Then Christmas came - we spent it apart and were both miserable every day - the rest is history. Together we bridged family and cultural divides, both built successful careers, found that we did after all have so many things in common and a shared dream - to sail away together across oceans. Over 30 years of marriage and Terry still doesn't cook but we ride motorcycles, sail boats, play music, travel and explore - we do all that together. Our favorite quote is from Winnie the Pooh "if you live to be a 100 I hope I live to be 100 less one day so I never have to live without you'.
Terry (Dr Mary Teresa Ryall)
Born and raised in a large Irish family, educated at Convent School and NUU, she began her career on the mean streets of N. Ireland in the midst of the troubles building bridges between young people in a deeply divided community. This dedication to developing young people brought her to the UK and roles that included leading various Youth Services, Director of The Princes Trust, CEO of the Girl Guide Association and most recently founding CEO of V Inspired, a national charity aimed at providing opportunities to young people through volunteering. In between she squeezed in an MA and PhD and most challenging of all for someone who can't swim, learned to sail and crossed an ocean. Terry has a huge extended family we keep close to and a liking for shiny (red) open to sports cars.
Alan (Alan Fordyn Ryall)
Born and raised in Manchester England on a large estate on the edge of the city The education system and Alan did not get along well and the only thing he excelled in at school was swimming at county championship level. The Boy Scouts provided a platform for the outdoors and an introduction to sailing, kayaking and a sense of independent self-sufficiency. Married at 18 focussed the mind on building a career, not a great recipe for a marriage and sadly it failed but gave Alan 2 lovely daughters Michelle and Sam (now adding the joy of Georgia and Harry - our Grandchilldren) . After a successful Corporate career Alan took the leap of faith to build his own consultancy and embarked on a life of long-haul flying and too many nights in hotels working with major global business . It proved a successful move and, after laying the foundation for the US expansion of the business he's now retired with time to go sailing - free at last!
Our Sailing Journey together
Starting out
Alan learned to sail Wayfarers in the boy scouts later going on to race Fireballs and Hobies - Terry hated dinghy sailing but after a flotilla holiday in Greece fell in love with the cruising life. A 26' Trapper 300 was our first keel boat followed by a Westerly GK29, Westerly Seahawk and 'Tenku' the lovely Vancouver 38 Pilot we owned for 10 years. Tenku was a true ocean boat but too small for our plans so we sadly said goodbye - she now sails the Scottish west coast. We've loved every one of..
Terry spent her early life in Ireland and never once dreamed of going to sea - in fact she refused to sail in dinghys because they were wet, cold and tipped over.. Her dream only started on Odysseus (Oddy) 17, a small Comet under the care of Jean and Mike on the lead boat. If you'd asked her back then if she thought she would ever sail an ocean she'd have said you were crazy, especially since she doesn't swim.
WhenAlan was a young boy he remembers a holiday in St Ives Cornwall and looking down into the harbour at a small wooden dinghy and wondering if he would ever be rich enough to own one and sail away. Since that day life has been good to us, we found each other and together have owned many lovely boats that have carried us safely over the horizon. Yet the dreams of the young boy remain. The thrill has never left and there's always another horizon.
Sailing nursery
We learned sailing and navigation from the UK's south coast most weekends, winter and summer, with longer trips to France, Belgium and Holland whenever we could get away. The Channel Islands and Brittany coast were tough classrooms with their tidal ranges reaching 40', rocky passages and wild tide races. There can be no better place to learn lessons the hard way and we're still learning.
Sailing companions who made some of our voyages richer include:
Harry Ryall - who at 14 sailed 1800 miles across Biscay to the coast of Africa
Georgia Ryall - not a natural sailor but always our favourite Grandaughter
Dave Higgins - favourite crew who also joined us on the trip to Lanzarote
Collette Higgins - who overcame her fear of the sea and sailed to Sark
Art & Sharon David - neighbours and friends who seem to bring a gale each time
Stephen Piddington - who sailed with us many times inc. to the City of London
Gary Woodhead - who came all the way from Oz to sail with us
Stephen Duncan - maker of great Thai Curry
Chris Bramwell - engineer extraordinaire
...and many other family and friends who have joined us (sometimes with some trepidation) on weekends in the Solent.
