New Million Pound Training Centre helps Walbrook
Temporary buildings put up in 1866 to house the Royal Canoe Club, home of Walbrook Rowing Club, in Teddington on Thames, will finally be demolished later this month to be replaced by a state of the art multi-water sport training centre.
The total project cost is in the order of £950,000 and has been financed with the assistance of grants and members’ donations.
The main grants awarded were from the BCU and ARA Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) portfolios, distributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
An award of £300,000 was made to provide the new facilities including a main coaching/lecture/briefing room, a heavy weights gymnasium, increased changing space and extra internal boat storage as well as facilities for disabled use.
Further grants and interest free loans came from a number of charities including the London Marathon, Hampton Fuel Allotment Charity, the Peacock Foundation, the Grange Farm Trust and generous contributions from Members of the Royal Canoe Club and the Skiff Club.
This ambitious community based development will provide up to date facilities not only for rowing but also for Dragon boating, Canoeing and Skiffing as well as for Trowlock Island residents.
This will enable the club to expand the range and depth of its activities, increasing membership and participation across the range of water sports and other leisure activities for members and the local community.
Peter Wells, Chairman of the Royal Canoe Club Trust and Skiff Club Trust says “This is probably the most exciting development for the club since it was formed. It will finally enable us to realise the vast potential of this unique and beautiful river based site”
Sean Holt, Sport England London Regional Director says “Full credit must go to the Royal Canoe Club and Skiff Club Trust who have had the vision and appetite to undertake this ambitious project. I am confident that the new enhanced facility will have a tremendous impact on Sport England’s quest to get the capital participating in more sport and physical activity”
Di Graham, Walbrook RC says. “We already have a modern and probably the best fleet of boats in the area. This new training facility will now enable us properly to cater for all rowers from novice to elite level”.