New facilities boost for rowing club
Work is today underway to replace a rowing club's ageing clubhouse with a new facility fit for the 21st century.
WOODBRIDGE: Work is today underway to replace a rowing club's ageing clubhouse with a new facility fit for the 21st century.
The project is part of Deben Rowing Club's five-year development plan and members hope it will help the organisation build on the tremendous growth enjoyed over the last few years.
Demolition work to knock down the old clubhouse started at the end of last month and the new facility should be up and running by the end of March 2010.
It will include the construction of a new two-storey building with enhanced boat storage, changing rooms and a multifunctional training room and a meeting area that will also be available for use by the community.
Tim Earnshaw, chairman of the Woodbridge-based club, said: “The new clubhouse will be a significant sporting and social development for Woodbridge.
“The club itself has been doing extremely well but we needed to do something about the clubhouse because it was in a ramshackle state.
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“However the development plan is not just about rebuilding the clubhouse - it's about encouraging new members because we can't just expect the club to sustain itself.”
The building project, which is estimated to cost around �270,000, has received backing from a number of organisations including British Rowing, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Woodbridge Town Council, Adnams and BT.
The rowing club will have to meet the shortfall through its own fundraising, which is still on going.
Mr Earnshaw said they were particularly keen to increase their junior membership, which already stands at 18 14-18 year-olds.
If you would like to help with the fundraising effort then please contact Mr Earnshaw at timothy.earnshaw@thomsonreuters.com .
Are you raising money for a good cause? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.
