Announcement of Construction of new Clubhouse

After more than 20 years of discussions, plans, and fundraising Staines Boat Club has taken a momentous step forward in the Club’s development by starting work on the construction of a new Clubhouse. The start of work was marked with a ceremonial breaking of the ground on Sunday 7th October by one of the Club’s longest standing members.

The new larger, 2-storey Clubhouse will replace the current one which was completed in 1951 as a temporary replacement for our original facility. It has served the Club very well but is no longer large enough given recent growth in membership of the Club and all the other schools and groups which now use Staines Boat Club as a base.

Staines Boat Club would like to thank British Rowing not only for its support for this project but for its support for the Club over the years through the provision of advice and coaching, equipment and funding. Staines Boat Club would also like to thank the Councils of both Runnymede and Spelthorne for their support for this project and for their support to the Club, recognising the strong links between the Club and the local community. Staines Boat Club is very grateful to each and every grant body who has kindly supported the project. In particular, the Club would like to thank the London Marathon Charitable Trust and Sport England for their very generous support. All grant bodies who have helped will be acknowledged in the new Clubhouse. Staines Boat Club would also like to thank all the members and friends of the Club who have helped with the development and funding of the new Clubhouse.

Alan Douglas, Staines Boat Club President, said “I am very pleased to make the announcement that we are starting the construction of our new Clubhouse in Staines. This comes after a lot of work from many members over the years and I am grateful to all the help I have received in being able to get this project to the starting line today. The new Clubhouse and the larger and greatly improved facilities it will give us will enable Staines Boat Club to grow further, to offer more rowing opportunities to the local community, to more schools and groups, to offer rowing to disabled people for the first time and to offer a facility to the community.”

Staines Boat Club provides rowing opportunities to a wide range of local people from those as young as 11 up to those in (or beyond) their 70s. The Club has a range of successful male and female competitive squads right active across the age spectrum. The Club also has a Leisure group who row for recreation and fun without the pressure of competition. Staines Boat Club partners with a number of local schools and Universities enabling as wide a group of people as possible to experience rowing and the health and wellbeing benefits the sport provides.