More than forty years ago, members of a model aircraft club, based on the banks of the River Thames at Reading, decided to use their construction skills to build a canoe. As canvas boats became more popular than miniature planes, a new dawn broke as Reading Kayak Club was formed. That was the birth of a club which would produce a chain of international and Olympic paddlers. In mid 1997 and after five years of tedious planning and fund raising, the club finally hit the jackpot as it was awarded a grant of ?395,653 by the National Lottery to build a new clubhouse to change its future forever.
In July, building work began and at last as the run down sheds that constituted ?the canoe club? were knocked down and the whole site landscaped. Over the intervening months, the dream clubhouse, which looked doubtful time after time, crept up and now patiently waits as the finishing touches are added. Meanwhile, the paddlers have been grateful to Reading Rowing Club who have allowed us to use their changing facilities over the summer and throughout the winter. On the 2nd May 1998, our new clubhouse was officially opened by Mr Derek Casey, Chief Executive of the English Sports Council. It was a proud day for club members but also for paddlers around the country as it will act as a centre of excellence, bringing canoeing into the 21st Century.
In 1975, Reading Kayak Club changed its name to Reading & Leighton Park Canoe Club after Bernard Perrett, a P.E. Master at Leighton Park School began regularly bringing boys down to train. This partnership proved to be exceptionally successful as the juniors added a new dimension to the club. Up until last year, a number of junior crews were entered each year into the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race. Over the last decade, the school has had winning crews almost every year. Nineteen of Bernard's pupils went on to compete at an international level. Last year, Bernard retired after 31 years at Leighton Park and sadly, the connection with the school has lessened, although Bernard still coaches at the club each week. However, it has been decided that the club should change its name for the third time in its history, in conjunction with the opening of the clubhouse and so should be known from now as simply, Reading Canoe Club.
The buildings that have sheltered many canoeists over the years range from an old launch called ?Big Toot? which was beached on the bank, to a rusty caravan and later a second hand wooden construction, donated in the 1980?s. Despite careful maintenance, the buildings were quickly rotting away so in 1992, club Chairman Tamsin Phipps and other committee members began a plight to redevelop the whole site with the ambition of extending the club under the following criteria:
- To maintain their successes in national and international competitions
- To ensure that established and potential international athletes have adequate opportunities to prepare and compete, thereby achieving their maximum potential.
- To encourage the inclusion of a wide range of canoes and kayaks at the introductory stage, so as to make canoeing more attractive to all sections of the community.
- To offer facilities and membership to the disabled.
- To develop the club's newly formed youth section.
- To make the club more accessible to families.
The redevelopment of the facilities was completely beyond the financial resources of the club and its members so it sought aid from other sources. Obviously, the grant from the Lottery went the greatest way to ensuring that the ?450,000 scheme went ahead but help from the Environment Agency was very much appreciated, along with Reading Borough Council who were exceptionally co-operative and supportive during the planning stage, kindly donating land for the expansion. Additional to this, club members promised to secure a further ?10,000 through money raising events and personal pledges. None of the funding has come easily and the whole project has been a battle against the odds from start to finish. Application after application was submitted to various organizations until the scheme could be considered. Then a great deal of persuasion was needed to convince everybody of the importance and necessity of the development. After many uncertain Board meetings, it was finally announced that after years of fighting, the project which was on the point of collapse had been rewarded with the support of the Lottery and would at last become a reality.
The new clubhouse provides a spacious meeting area, changing facilities, a weights room, kitchen, offices, enough storage for over 250 boats, including K4s and a designated area for boat repairs as well. It will be fully integrated for the disabled, with a lift. It may be used by all members of the community, families, schools and businesses alike. Both competition and recreational paddling will be greatly encouraged. Reading has applied for a Paddlesport Development Officer to ensure that a steady flow of juniors passes through its doors, offering the chance to learn canoeing to a greater number of children in the area.
The scale of the development cannot be truly appreciated from a photograph. Back in November, Steve Harris, the reigning K2 marathon World Champion visited the building when it was still under construction. He was extremely impressed praising the dedication of club members, the Lottery and all of the involved organizations, which have lent their support.
He said, ?I feel that with the talent, wealth of knowledge and commitment that we have at present in the UK, flatwater racing has the potential to make the leap from a minority sport to one of majority status.? He went on, ?I am very happy to be involved with canoeing and in Reading and I look forward to the future with great enthusiasm. This development is a step forward for Reading and a great leap for canoeing.?
The whole project must be looked upon as a most incredible achievement by Tamsin
Phipps. Despite endless knock backs and opposition, illness and pregnancy, her
tireless dedication has turned a couple of rotting sheds into the country's
finest canoeing clubhouse. She should be thanked and congratulated as without
her voluntary work, it would never have come into existence.