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 History
of the Island Yacht Club |
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With
Echoes of the Past
By Arthur Rapkin, Hon. President
(updated and Revised to 1991 by John Bramwell (Past Commodore) |
Foreword
I've always been 100% for the idea of regular Newsletters for Members of the
Club and when I was approached to Contribute towards a new series, I was
only too happy to oblige.
I understand it is planned to make it a quarterly effort, so with that in
mind I propose to write on the history of our Club, covering just a few
years in each publication. I hope many of you who have the interest of the
Club at heart will enjoy hearing about its birth and subsequent struggles,
and if, later on; there are any items you would like to know more about,
please do ask me.
A. Rapkin
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Before we decided to form a sailing club, only a very few boats used
Smallgains/Oyster Creek, and, of course, in the frugal days, second-hand
converted lifeboats were luxuries. The only real class cruiser was "RENE.
K." owned by J. Lawrence Senior, other than Thames barges delivering
building materials to the Canvey Supply Co., and Leigh Bawleys off-loading
fish, - the Creek harboured only a handful of craft.
In 1930 1 swapped my 16' Scow for an old Broads-built sloop "NORTH STAR" and
with a 3' keel began to learn all about sandbanks and falling tides! It was
soon after that I became acquainted with Ossie Smith who had a converted
ship's lifeboat. He used to overload it with a dozen complete novices (who
proved to be a cycling club down from London) - consequently the boat was
always in some sort of trouble and it was then that he suggested the idea of
us pooling ideas and local knowledge in the form of a club.
It was in early 1936 when we eventually managed a meeting in his cafe
"Woodville", at which some 20 of us attended (12 of whom were Ossie's
cycling pals), but nevertheless it was a friendly gathering and we decided
to form the Canvey Yacht Club.
Ossie Smith was appointed Secretary, I was made Treasurer, and A. McCrerie a
reluctant Commodore - I say reluctant because he was a very quiet and
retiring man, but we felt he should hold the Office being the owner of the
only good jetty with a hard and a floating cafe, which he offered as a
temporary clubhouse.
By the end of 1936 we had about 50 members and were able to sponsor our
first Dinner & Dance, but the progress was only made possible by the
kindness of J. Lawrence (Senior) and Mr Price Powell, who had started us off
with a small donation towards our funds during that first year. Membership
fee was 7/6d (37p today).
Easter 1937 saw us started off with new enthusiasm; our funds were now
strong enough to launch out to buy our own badges and burgees; at that first
meeting it had been agreed to use Blue on Red/White in honour of 1935 being
Coronation Year - the Windmill was used as an emblem in memory of the Dutch
who had been called in to save Canvey from the sea encroachment, and finally
the Essex scimitars included because of our geographical position.
Later, a new member, Mr Phipps, kindly presented us with a small 35' lighter
which had been converted for a then famous illustrator for "Yachting World",
situated in the saltings near the present sluice gates. It was our first
clubhouse and enabled us to get together for tea parties and discussions.
Despite the menacing clouds of War, 1938/39 was very successful for us; the
Bank Holiday Rallies attracted 80% support as did our first efforts at
Handicap Racing.
By the 1940's we were beginning to suffer from the call-up, and as our
co-founder Ossie Smith had already left the Island for business reasons, it
was agreed at the A.G.M., that for the time being Mr Rapkin should combine
the offices of Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer. However, the War took its
toll of our Officers as most of the younger men were called up:- luckily a
popular new member, Mr Oddy volunteered to take over the Secretary's job and
Miss L. Rapkin filled in as Treasurer, as my call-up became imminent.
Finally, before I left in February 1941 1 managed to call an emergency A.G.M.
and advised making the running of the Club a sort of Coalition, with Mr Oddy
at the head until the War was over, but only 18 months later I received an
urgent request from my family and Mr Oddy, to try to get a 48 hour pass to
attend an A.G.M.
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A
new member, rich, but must remain nameless, had been able to persuade enough
of the very few members left behind to call this A.G.M. on a Sunday at the
Casino Ballroom!! I put these exclamation marks purposely because the older
ones among you will remember that it was the largest ballroom in Essex.
When I arrived there on compassionate leave(?) imagine my disgust to find
only about 20 anxious wives and mostly female members present in this vast
hall, facing a long green baize covered table with about 5 of the Committee
behind it, looking completely ridiculous. Although I was able to thwart the
takeover plans of the aforementioned 'yuppie' by pointing out that a
coalition arrangement had been agreed upon and with 80% of our male members
away in the War effort, we had no logical right to alter the Club in any way
until the majority were demobbed and had joined our ranks again. This won
the day, but not before a vote had been put and passed, to alter the Club
name to the ISLAND YC. instead of Canvey Island Y.C., on the excuse it was
rather a dowdy unknown place for a Club(?) needless to say this had to stay,
as when the first peace-time A.G.M. was called it was pointed out that the
new name had been registered at Lloyds for some 3 years and it was agreed
not to alter it back because of any misunderstandings and, of course, waste
of money involved (our stock of badges and ties etc. had run out during the
War and the new I.Y.C. ones purchased). So, if any of you interested members
would like to see a C.Y.C. badge 50 years old, just ask me.
I must apologise for writing at length about this period in our history,
but, once we had our first peacetime A.G.M. the results and support proved
we were right in leaving important business until then.
Of course, back on Canvey during the 1940-46 hiatus, things were not good
for boating, - only craft allowed to stay afloat were registered for
fishing, but some of us managed to get a licence, although we hated fishing.
Even then we were limited to a mine-cleared area from Southend Pier over to
the Mid Bligh. (I used to get out when home on leave in a borrowed T.E.O.D.
but once got chased by a Police launch for questioning - luckily I knew the
sandbanks better than them, and escaped over the mud flats before they ran
aground). On hindsight it was a very silly action to risk it, as only 2
months later a fishing bawley from Leigh on Sea was blown out of the water
by a mine just off the Yantlett Creek.
In the next episode I promise to write more cheerfully - once the winds of
War had blown away and we were back in civvies, the Club just bounded
forward, full of new enthusiasm, although our bank balance was only £200.
1947 Once again we were able to start our various activities, and races and
rallies gradually attracted more support - the August Rally to Queenborough
and Harty Ferry drew some 20 Craft and the October A.G.M. numbered over 60
persons - not bad for our first Peacetime meeting.
Despite one of our worst Winters with the Creek frozen right across the 1948
Season started well with fortnightly Rallies but the great step forward was
the purchase of an ex-Thames barge "Louise". This proved a real asset; it
was moored next to the old Tea Rooms clubhouse and provided us with storage
space and a social venue for parties and afternoon teas, etc. This Season
was also our first real move to encourage local sponsors for our racing.
Sunnyside hotel (where my Hotspots Band was resident at weekends) gave us a
Challenge Trophy and the new "Canvey Chronicle" was encouraged to put up
another Cup for our racing in opposition to one from Fred McCave's "Canvey
News". The one black spot on the horizon was a Government backed plan to get
rid of all houseboats with a view to damming Smallgains Creek. Naturally the
Committee were alarmed for our future and many Councillors and surveyors
sympathetic with our progress were enlisted on our side.
I consequently drew up an alternative plan to use lock gates in the proposed
dam which could provide a large inland lake for boating and swimming etc. In
the proposed cut-off area of some 1/2 mile of the Creek, but like all good
ideas it disappeared later in a morass of Council mismanagement. Today, if
that plan had been accepted, the Council could have had a natural Marina
bringing in an income of £1000's per annum, but later on you will see how
the powers that be, ignored the plan and made a wasteland in its place. The
year ended in grand style for our Annual Dinner & Dance at the new Sunnyside
Hotel with membership touching the 90's mark.
In 1949 we started well with a big step forward by becoming affiliated to
the yacht Racing Association (now the R.YA.) and in case you are interested
in figures, our fees were set at 15 shillings for subs. 5 Shillings entrance
fee with members still in the forces free. |
Apart
from the increasing number of races and rallies three innovations were
launched - our first Marine Photograph Competition held in the new barge
H.Q. - our first entry in Canvey Carnival, and, because of increasing
support, we moved over to the Bay Country Club for our Easter Dance complete
with "Lovely Legs" and "Knobbly Knees" competitions! But loyally returned to
the Admiral Jellicoe for our Annual Dinner & Dance.
In the Canvey Carnival we won a 3rd prize - the late Lily Rapkin won Ist
prize and a camera in the Photographic Competition judged by an M.R.P.S.
from Ilford Ltd. and the most consistent racing winners were Roland Prout in
a 14' International and John Fisk in a Firefly.
1950 was outstanding for more racing with new sponsors and our first Channel
crossing for five of our craft all of whom returned safely.
A new venture was a nautical film show put on at the Admiral Jellicoe in aid
of the R.N.L.I. - you want to know the films we hired? Captain Courageous
and Bligh of the Bounty! - We were quite seasick after those 3 1/2 hours of
sea thrillers! Progress was still steady and we ended our Season with 120
members and 50 craft.
1951 Must be one of the highest spots for this Yacht Club; let me explain
why:- Every Christmas a few of our more hardy sailors had been in the habit
of taking Christmas Fayre to the Keepers of Chapman Lighthouse and by chance
we learnt it was their Centenary of the Lighthouse. When suggested to the
Committee that we should put on a big celebration it was agreed 100% and
plans swung into operation. The B.B.C. was interested and the local Sea
Rangers and Canoe Club asked to be included; there was no affiliation with
the mainland clubs in those days, so despite their interest we voted to go
it alone.
Saturday June 23rd was the "big day" - it started a bit dull and rough but
with a better forecast the Trinity House Brethren gave us the necessary
permission to go alongside with the 3 club representatives, the B.B.C. and
Pathe Newsreel cameramen. North Star I. was also allowed to land after
leading a wonderful fleet of Club Craft and Canoes in an agreed figure of
eight round the lighthouse. Gifts were presented to the Keepers and a
special plaque of commemoration was given to Trinity House, which is still
at the London Headquarters today. |
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A
special tribute was paid to Mr E.E.O. Lawrence, father of John Lawrence,
whose lovely motor yacht "RENE. K." had acted as host craft to all the Press
and Officials picked up at the P.L.A.jetty in Hole haven. The only ironical
part of it all was that something which had taken us months of careful
planning was disposed of by the B.B.C. and Pathe Newsreel in approximately 2
1/2 - 3 mins showing! In July we had another first at the Admiral Jellicoe
when the Chairman of the Council opened our Arts & Crafts Exhibition which
created a lot of interest among the general public, this was followed by a
Football Match on the mud at Thorney Bay, both of which were in aid of the
Seaman’s Fund.
Being Festival year the Royal Yacht Britannia was due to pass Canvey with
the Royal couple aboard, so once again we launched a Sail Past pageant and a
message of goodwill was
flashed from Labworth Cafe by an ex-navy member and duly received and
answered by Her Majesty. |
So ended our best year ever bringing good publicity to the Club and to
Canvey Island.
1952 was rather an anti-climax after all the high spots of '51 but one
outstanding feature was the Thorney Bay Regatta. We tied up with Col.
Fielder of the Holiday Camp to stage a weekend of activities in Thorney Bay
(for your information up to 80 years ago it was marked as Dead Man's Bay!!)
We produced a mud football match kicked off by the then Carnival Queen; a
water polo match as the tide flooded in; a race for the New Thorney Bay Cup;
and finally rounded it off with a big Carnival Dance in the Camp Ballroom;
the weather was hot so everything went as planned.
l953 this was to be our first setback apart from the War Years. On Saturday
February 10th came a big surge from the North Sea which flooded Canvey and
all low lying land on the East Coast. On Sunday several fishing bawleys from
Leigh came over to help and took off many stranded residents and took them
to the relief centres in Benfleet. We used our dinghies to ferry them over
and try to rescue people still left behind by the Army Lorries; but by
Monday most of the flood water had receded and thankfully the high tides
never returned. I managed a couple of days off work, so helped the Army and
other volunteers to sandbag all the gaps in the back sea wall. The Club
barge gantry was damaged and we only lost one boat, due to overloading with
sand and cement - all the others rode out the flood O.K. - but on the human
side we lost one old member and his wife drowned and another local Sea Scout
Master died later from the intense cold.
On the credit side we appealed to the R.Y.A. for some help and a cheque for
£25 was gratefully received. Once the Season started again racing and
rallies went ahead as scheduled but the year ended unhappily for my family
as our Thames Barge Houseboat "Old Upton" once "Black Duck of Rochester",
which had been wrecked by the flood, had to be destroyed, so on November the
5th the local children were invited to the burning of the poor old girl -
she blazed for 2 days and nights. "Old Upton" had been the scene of many
birthday parties, etc., for Club Members over the years and was a sad loss.
1954 showed steady progress with regular tea-parties on the renovated
"Louise", with as many as 50 present, and remember it was only Tea! No
licence aboard, even the christening ceremony was performed with a smashed
bottle of Tizer! Perhaps the high spot was the quick return to social events
after that Flood misery; on New Year's Eve we had a Fancy Dress Ball at the
Admiral Jellicoe with 150 present ALL in Fancy Dress.
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1956/7/8 1 must apologise for a scarcity of news for these years as some
kind person took away our Scrapbook for that period, but I can remember that
progress was very good. We encouraged the advent of the "Canvey Chronicle"
starting on the Island and duly received Racing Cups from them, the new
"Yachts & Yachting" magazine started in Southend. My old "Nth. Star I" was
sold and replaced with the new Dauntless Nth. Star 11, which, aged 31 still
sails regularly. At the end of '58 we purchased the present land from the
Lawrence/ Clarke Estates, and immediately looked round for a temporary type
building. This we acquired, and after hectic foundation work, with a hired
mixer, it was erected.
1959/60 Voluntary work, under supervision of a builder/member had it ready
for the spring and in May '59 the then Harbour Master from the P.L.A.
officially opened it for us. But with increasing membership it was obvious
that it would soon burst at the seams, (for one popular film show we had 60
people packed inside with another 30 odd watching through the windows,) but
of course, the extra attraction must have been our first real licensed bar.
Because of the increased members we had to move to the mainland for our
Easter and Annual Dinner and Dance.
1961 This was to be our next stepping stone into future prosperity. Being
our Silver Jubilee year the Committee planned to make Canvey sit-up and
gasp. In the next instalment I will give you all the wonderful details.
We started off our Silver Jubilee year with a Tree Planting Ceremony at
Easter, when the Officers and Committee each planted a conifer, with their
name attached, on the outside boundary of the Clubhouse. Today, with
extensions and improvement etc., only six remain.
We chose Whitsun weekend for the celebrations and were blessed with hot
sunny weather and a big support, over 300 programmes being sold.
On land we staged the usual Children's Sports, followed by Tug-of-War,
Greasy Pole, etc., for the adults; but everyone was catered for with side
shows and a real live Fashion Show complete with mannequins and background
music in a special marquee. At sea, thanks to an afternoon tide, we held
swimming races and comic events, rounded off with a dressed ship "Sail Past"
up at the Point. |
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It was officially opened by the then Chairman of Canvey Council, and closed
in fine style with a big Dinner and Dance at Garons of Southend, with
several Commodores of local Yacht Clubs sharing the celebrations.
1963 This was by no means an anti-climax as our increasing membership forced
us to expand part of our "new" clubhouse with an extension, originally
designated the Cadet Room (now our Dart Room area) but once finished we
promptly filled up the extra space with popular dances and a highly
successful Black & White Minstrel Show.
1964/67 1 have had to group these years together because my scrapbook had
been stolen from the Clubhouse, but my photographic records show they
covered a lot of activity and work on moorings and fittings, etc., but the
high spots were all achieved by the Sailing Section. Our Mirror Dinghy Fleet
was uplifted by the new membership of the late Alf Buxton whose helmsman
ship encouraged our members to increase, culminating with his winning of the
European Championships in
Sweden
in 1967.
1968 This was another good year on the sailing side; we actually gained 3
firsts at the Nore Race, and our Mirror, sailed by R & B Walsh, slipped to
2nd place in the European Championship as Alf Buxton was unable to defend
his title, but he won the Open Championship. The saddest event that year was
the closing of Benfleet Creek to Holehaven by the erection of the Bridge, -
John Lawrence took a contingent of Councillors on that last trip round the
Island and N. Star followed with some of our officers. This year also marked
the tie-up with Hurlingham Y.C. of Putney who, in appreciation of our rescue
of some of their fleet of boats off the rocks on Canvey Sea Front in a
southerly gale, presented us the inscribed bell (still in the Clubhouse
today). We maintained contact with them in mutual visits for many years and
anyone making the trip up Thames who calls in their waterside Clubhouse
would, I'm sure, be made very welcome. (I visited them 2 years ago with a
plastic rope round my prop. and it was cleared by them without my help!) To
finish off the year a Rum Mirror Race was held on December 21st with 14
Starters!! Brr!
1969 This was another good year for sailing - the Open Dinghy Championships
held round the East Coast, came to Canvey for one meeting and we had the
pleasure of seeing the Champion Reg White from Brightlingsea show us how it
is done. Ken Pearce, a local top helmsman visited us with a film show of his
efforts in the Transatlantic Race, and we signed on a new member who later
became the Chancellor of the Exchequer and presented us with the Amery Cup
for Cadets.
The saddest note of '69 was the passing of our old friend Mr N. Phipps who,
you will remember, gave us our first floating Clubhouse in the early days.
He was always 100% for the Club and honoured us at the end by asking me to
scatter his ashes in the Thames Estuary where he had enjoyed sailing with
our Club. This was made possible by the kind co-operation of John Lawrence
who took us and the local Vicar out for the ceremony in his M/C "Taurus",
needless to say on the way back the ship bar was opened and we toasted a
grand old man of the sea in a way he would have most appreciated. It was
during this year that a new 11'6" "Turtle" Class Dinghy was designed and
built by Thames Marine (builders of the Snapdragon range of boats) and
introduced into our programme but subsequently it proved to split our Mirror
fleet and cause its decline in years to follow.
1970 It was at this period that our Dinghy Section was at its best, when the
Members rebuilt and improved the dinghy compound and slipways, which have
lasted well until today. The Turtle had, by the end of the Season, sold well
enough at home and abroad to stage their first European Championship at
Canvey with 25 entries; after several races over the weekend we took 2nd,
3rd, 4th, and 5th places.
1971/4 Once again most events were in Sailing Section but one great step
forward was our membership passing the 300 mark for the first time.
The Turtles and Mirrors continued to win many championships around the coast
including the European Turtle Title which was brought back to Canvey by the
Walsh family. At this period activities of the Club were so varied and many,
that our Mr V. Senatore was appointed Press Officer, a post which he has
held with excellent service up to the present time. Also, this year marked
our entry into the Inter Club Association, which represents all the local
Yacht Clubs.
A sad note on which to end the year was the demise of our loyal Treasurer,
Miss Lily Rapkin; from 1937 she had kept us on a tight rein and left us with
property and good bank balances.
In her memory £450 was raised to buy a speedy rescue boat, which with the
help of Club funds resulted in the craft so active in all our races today.
The Committee was kept busy fighting off the plans of the Anglian Water
Authority to dam the creek where our present slipway lays, but we won in the
end and it was defeated.
1975 This year started off with the launching ceremony of the Rescue Boat
"The Lily Rapkin"; which the members had financed in memory of the Club
Treasurer for 40 years, (actually, at the pre-Cocktail Party - the boat
nearly floated off in an alcoholic sea!).
Racing was increasing with good support - most dinghy entries numbered
approximately 12/15 and the Cruiser section drew 20/25 starters, but the
great step forward was the application to start stern-on moorings to replace
the 30 year old centre-creek chains and buoys. The Season ended with our
first Annual Dinner & Dance at the Cumberland Suite, Westcliff, which,
despite several try-outs at alternative venues, is still our favourite
choice today.
In 1976 the Rescue Boat really earned its name when 3 lads were cut-off by
the rising tide on the Ray Sands - luckily we managed to snatch them off
with only 10/15 minutes to spare. By now, most of our plans for progress
were well in hand thanks to the great efforts of the Planning and Mooring
Committees. A new Dinghy compound was built and followed up by an excellent
slipway which in turn led to part of the saltings being reclaimed for
laying-up facilities.
1977 was to be another milestone in our history, as we launched into a Grand
4-day celebration of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Silver Jubilee. In
these four days we held Fancy Dress Parades, Water and Land Sports, Barbecue
with Fireworks, a Cocktail Party, rounded off on Tuesday June 7th with a
Sail Past (in the rain) and a Commodores' Tea Party and Prize-Giving. Nearly
400 programmes were sold and all profits went to the R.N.L.I.
What better way for me to fade out, being then retired temporarily at 66, 1
decided to retire as Commodore and was made Honorary President, leaving John
Grosvenor to take over the helm after 7 years as my Vice Commodore. The next
2 years proved very hard work for all the Committee and Officers, as
Planning was frequently obstructed by Local Authorities, the Council and on
the odd occasion by local residents.
By 1979 a new Commodore, John Bramwell, took over and he too had a hard time
with the Authorities, especially with the Anglian Water Authorities on the
raising of the Sea Wall, at the beginning of his term of office, with the
unstinting efforts of Sheila Stammers, arrangements were made for members to
plant some 150 young trees around the perimeter of the tipped areas of the
saltings and alongside the public footpath leading to the eastern end of the
Point. Regrettably after some 6 months the majority of the trees had been
stolen - including all the conifers - but 4 trees still remain to this day.
In 1979-80 the laying-up compound was finished, and for the winter months
many craft were able to enjoy the privilege of working on their boats in
ideal conditions. During the previous summer months work had commenced on
the first of the stern-on moorings.
On the 28th April 1980, in the early hours of the morning, one L.A.J.
Mitchell, who traded as Merlin Marine (and many other names - see Evening
Echo, Monday 21st October 1983) erected a compound and installed a caravan
on part of the area which the Club had infilled to the West of, and adjacent
to the public footpath.
Mitchell laid claim to virtually the whole of the saltings at the Point,
including the area that we had tipped, on the basis of acquiring from one D.
Baker a possessory Title to the whole area. The only area excluded was that
upon which the Club's laying-up compound was constructed, the slipway, and
the area between those parts and our road to Point Road. He of course did
not lay claim to the road. Included in Mitchell's claim was a large area of
the River Thames and a small area of the shingle/sand beach at the eastern
end of the Point, being one of two small parts of the Point not owned by the
Club. This other part is vested in Castlepoint Council, but it is now
thought that this area has reverted to mud-flats.
Charlie Blanchard, a Club Member for many years, reported Mitchell's
activities to John Bramwell at his office at 9.30 am, he immediately 'phoned
Malcolm Hockett, the Clubs Rear Commodore who was employed as a litigation
executive by a large London firm of solicitors. Proceedings were immediately
commenced against Mitchell in the High Court in
London,
and within 24 hours an injunction was obtained against Mitchell to preserve
the status quo until a full hearing could take place with both sides
represented. The plaintiffs in the action were the Club's Trustees - Basil
Black, Vera Lawrence and John Bramwell, and the senior flag officers. John
Bramwell was also Commodore, Allen Brooks Vice Commodore, and John Brinkman
Rear Commodore, together with Malcolm Hockett Club Secretary.
At that time little thought was given to the length of time the court action
would take - in fact it took over four years before the Club won and
Mitchell was made bankrupt.
Pending a full hearing of the case Mitchell was ordered to remove all of his
installations. However even in these first few days parts of his compound
fencing had been pulled down and the caravan pushed over the edge of the
tipped area onto the saltings by person(s) unknown.
At the Bankruptcy Court, which followed the Court Action relating to the
ownership of the saltings, Mitchell failed to satisfy the Judge with his
answers at two hearings of his public examination which was adjourned sine
die. To this day he remains an undischarged bankrupt by virtue of this and
other exploits. Prior to the bankruptcy many meetings took place with
Mitchell and his lawyers attended by John Bramwell and Malcolm Hockett.
As a result of the bankruptcy a Trustee was appointed and Malcolm Hockett
was able to negotiate a settlement with the Trustee which the Court approved
dismissing Mitchell's claim and transferring to the Club any rights he may
have had in any part of the area he claimed. This included the area which
the Club had not previously owned. It also gave the Club an option to
purchase for £l the concrete barge, which option the Club exercised.
Mitchell further has to pay the Club costs for which the Club is a creditor
in the bankruptcy for £30,000. (The Club had only to pay Malcolm's firm just
over £6,000 in respect of monies paid out by them to Austin Allison, the
barrister who so ably acted for the Club.) THUS THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB WAS
SECURED.
In November 1981, John Brinkman became Commodore, but sadly his death
terminated his reign, before it had ended. Whilst in charge he helped to
improve our Clubhouse with several innovations: - the ships wheel centre
light, the hi-fi system, and the wind vane and indicator (he and I had seen
this idea in a very rich Yacht Club in Nieuport, Belgium, and we vowed we
would be the first Club in the Association of Yacht Clubs to install it, and
we were).
Our Vice Commodore, Brian Turner took over the remainder of John's term of
office, and then served as Commodore for the next three years. During
Brian's terms of office, as Rear, Vice and then Commodore, he was
instrumental in revitalising the racing activities of the Club to such an
extent that we were probably the most respected Club in the Estuary,
particularly in small cabin cruisers. Later on the Cadet Section slipped
back in numbers with so many passing into full membership age. 1986 was a
very busy year for Brian, reaching a climax in the Whitsun Weekend when the
Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee. Celebrations once again included dances,
sport, racing and at the 'Supper' variety acts by the girls and some of the
men in various guises. The highlight was our 20th Annual Whitbread Race,
which the Brewers acknowledged with Gold and Silver trophies and special
pennants.
The ultimate Sail Past of dressed ships was the envy of all our sailing club
friends on the mainland, and even the Marine Police joined the parade.
Once again our loyal supporter over many years of struggle - Sir Bernard
Braine (father of the House of Commons) was our Guest of Honour, and local
firms like Halcon and Prouts gave us strong support.
Brian's term of office finished in November 1986, a truly golden year for
him. John Bramwell again took over the helm as Commodore, and most of you
now in the Club will know better than I of the hard work all the
Sub-Committees have put in under his banner. During these years the Club's
Membership increased to some 500 plus Members, the number of stern-on
moorings continued to grow, the bottom bay of the slipway was concreted, and
after much deliberation a second tractor and a boat mobile lifting out
trolley were ordered, this again enabled the Club to give members the
increased facilities they required, when they were needed.
Regrettably during 1988 the death occurred of Ossie Smith, who with Arthur
was the Co-founder of the Club.
In November 1989, Ray Chuter, previously the Club's Vice Commodore took over
the reins as Commodore and the development of the Club's facilities at the
Point continued. Full planning consent has now been obtained for the
proposed Clubhouse and Outline Planning Consent, for residential purposes,
has been obtained in respect of the land where the Club is at present
situated in Wall Road.
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It is interesting to note that due to the foresight of Club Members, Canvey
Point Saltings was purchased on 19th October 1961 for the princely sum of £405, from the Trustees of the A.M. Clarke
Estates (E.E.O. Lawrence, W.A. Squier and T.W. Squier).
In 1966 the Club commenced to formulate plans for its development, and in
1968, Outline Planning Consent was sought and obtained from Canvey Island
U.D.C. for the full scale development of the area. Relevant consents were
also obtained from the P.L.A. and A.W.A. Since then, the Club has sought and
obtained detailed Planning Consents in respect of various parts of the
original Consent, and of course they have still adhered to the original
concept.
The developments which have taken place over the years are as follows:-
Phase I Pre 1970 Construction of the original dinghy rack and walkway from
the sea wall.
Phase 11 From 1970 Building-up and grading of the access road from Point
Road to the sea wall.
Phase M from 1970 Infilling of Saltings.
Phase IV From 1975 Commencement of construction of Slipway.
Phase V From 1978 Commencement of construction of stem-on moorings, and
re-alignment of the embankment where necessary including removal
of wreck. ("Merry Miller")
Phase VI 1979 Concreting the face of the tipped area to protect against
erosion.
Phase VII 1979 Construction of boat storage compound.
Phase VIII Pre 1978 Construction to highway standard of the access road from
end of
Point Road
& 1985 to the sea wall and subsequently to slipway and boat storage
compound.
Phase IX 1985 Installation of services - gas, water, telephone, electricity
and main drainage.
Phase X 1986 Construction of permanent toilet, water and power facilities.
Although not detailed above, many other works were carried out in addition
toward the objectives outlined above.
The next phase in the development under the Outline Consent of 1968 is the
construction of a new Clubhouse and related ancillary facilities. In
addition, there is still some infilling of the saitings to be completed and
the Outline Consent referred to above, makes provision for covered boat
storage sheds.
I would like to end this history of the Club with a special dedication to
all, those wonderful Members who, over the years, worked behind us so
devotedly without any thought of gain or fame - there were so many that I
have purposely tried not to make this a "Who's Who" of the Club, but if they
are still Members, they will know and I hope appreciate, our silent tribute
to them. It would, however, be very wrong of me not to acknowledge the
enthusiastic support and work of my wife and our two families, who in their
time backed me up all the way. Our failures were few but our many successes
were all the reward we asked and like most of you, we got our rewards in
seeing the Club grow so strongly. Remember my motto - "Put more into the
Club than you take out and it will be a great success".
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