The Future of Rowing at Windsor

Transcript

Island Site Favoured for New Headquarters of the Eton Excelsior Club

The Mayor (Lieut. Colonel S. Wright) presided at a special meeting held at Windsor Town Hall on Monday evening to consider propositions with regard to new premises.  There was an excellent attendance, and after a good discussion, a resolution was carried that the committee be instructed to get out plans and estimates for the Island scheme, and also to ascertain as far as possible what financial assistance was likely to be forthcoming and bring up a report at an adjourned meeting, Subscriptions and promises of donations at the meeting amounted to nearly £300, which included five promises of £25.

The MAYOR having stated the business of the meeting.

Captain A. M. L. THOMSON, in outlining the two schemes which were put forward at the annual meeting of the club a month ago, said the present premises were dilapidated and inadequate.  They had no room to cover up their eights and there was not enough room to house their other boats.  The two schemes before them for building new headquarters were:-

1. The Eton College authorities would rebuild their present premises for them at an approximate cost of £1,000, the club to pay a deposit of £250 in cash, and the balance of £750 plus interest amounting to £30 per annum, and plus their present rent of £15 per annum, making a grand total of interest and rental of £45 per annum, and the Club to have a 21 years’ lease from College.
2. The Town Council of Windsor were willing to lease them the Island called Deadwater Eyot at a yearly rental of £10 on a 21 years’ lease, the Council to have the right to give them notice to move if the island was wanted for Council purposes.  An arrangement to be made in the lease to the effect that if the Council desired to take over the Island the buildings thereon would be taken over by them after valuation.

Captain Thomson said the Club required a comfortable changing room, better sanitary arrangements, and a social club room.  The cost of the Island scheme would be about £1,000, or 9d. a cubic foot.  He would be very pleased to hear the views of the members on the two schemes, so that the Committee might bring up more details of the scheme favoured.

Mr. A. H. DYSON said he had been connected with the Club for nearly fifty years (applause).  He joined it soon after he left school, and he had coxed behind such men as Charlie Wise, Dugdale, etc.  He had greatly benefited in health by his river work, and he attributed his good health largely to it.  Well, he plumped for the Island site, and he hoped those present would do the same.  The Mayor and Corporation had practically given them the site, and it was now mainly a matter of getting sufficient money to build a suitable boathouse.  The Island site was well above flood level, whereas their present premises were always liable to floods, and it was very dangerous at times for a boat to be rowed out of the boathouse.  They had some sixty members in the Club, and he thought they ought to be able to raise £1,500 if they all pulled together.  He had been round to see several old friends of the Club, and he had received four promises of donations of £25 each (applause).  They had over £100 to spare in this year’s balance sheet, so that the task was not so formidable after all.  Mr. V. A. C. WOOD (hon, treasurer) said [original printed text indistinct]

Mr. A. G. HORLOCK strongly supported Mr. Dyson’s proposition.  He advocated the same scheme some fourteen years ago, and was laughed at.  He did not see any great difficulty in raising the money.

Mr. T. LUFF asked if the island would be able to bear the weight of such a building as suggested.  It was just possible the edges of the island might spread after it was up. Had this been taken into consideration?

Mr. E. C. DURANT (the late Town Clerk) said that Mr. Ackerman had large heaps of ballast on it when he was in possession of the Island.  He also hauled large boats on to it, so he thought that as far as weight was concerned the island was all right.

Mr. THOMSON said they had had several consultations with the Borough Engineer on the matter, and he said the island was all right.

Mr. H. BAKER said they might have to put piles in to carry the weight of the building if it was erected near the edge of the island.  The Club appeared to be in the happy position of having good friends in both the Windsor Town Council and Eton College, and they both seemed to suggest how best they could help the Club.  Everybody desired to see the Club expand, and they must keep up with the times.  It seemed to him that the difficulty would be in raising the last £500, and he wondered what would be the position of the Club if they could only raise half the sum required.  It was no good building castles in the air, and unless they could get a large proportion of the sum required they ought to be very careful how they proceeded.

Capt. THOMSON said he ought to have stated that the Windsor Town Council undertook to keep the banks of the island in repair, which was a very big item in the Club’s favour if they decided to go there.

Mr. W. HOPE-JONES (Eton College) asked if he had any details he could give them, said he know nothing about the matter except what he had heard that evening.

Alderman G. MITCHELL spoke in favour of the Island scheme, and it seemed to him a matter entirely of £ s d.  He did not know how they proposed to get to the Island – by way of a bridge or by ferry.  Had that been considered ?

Mr. DURANT considered the Island scheme an excellent one, but he did not think they should be premature and bind themselves to it.  They would require a large sum of money, and they would be placing the Club in jeopardy rather if they bound themselves to the scheme that night.  They must, he thought, thought, first adopt the principle of having new premises, and then see how they could raise the money for them.

Captain THOMSON said the Club was the oldest on the river he believed it was 101 years ago when it was first founded, and he thought it was time they had better headquarters.

Mr. C. MARMENT spoke in favour of the island scheme, and said he would be pleased to give £25 towards it (applause).  He was interested in the training of young men, and although he was not in favour of a bar he would not say anything against it.

Мr. V. Н. HOBBS (vice-captain) said that he thought 75 per cent. of the members were in favour of the island scheme, but the question was could they raise the money?

Captain THOMSON said they must first ask the Town Council for an option on the island as he understood that another Club would like it.

The MAYOR said he thought they might rely on the Council looking after their interests (applause).

Mr. G. NEWTON said he thought they must go carefully. They must consider ways and means first.  They must not saddle the committee with the island scheme unless they could see their way clear to raising the money required.

[Alder] man Mitchell had not only given them a skiff, but he had promised £25 towards the island scheme.  Other offers of £20, £5, £1, ls., etc., were then made, and it was announced, amid applause, that the sum of £275 had already been promised.

Mr. T. LUFF proposed, and Capt. THOMSON seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to the Town Council, Mr. Durant, the Eton College Authorities, Mr. Stickland, and others who had helped them in the matter.  This was carried unanimously.

On the proposition of Mr. DYSON, seconded by Mr. HOBBS, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor for taking the chair.  Carried with acclamation.

The MAYOR returned thanks, and gave some interesting reminiscences of his rowing days.

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