Tag: ten years ago today

Mike McD continues his account of the birth of QRC, back in 2010:

ON THIS DAY – 10 years ago

Well, not exactly, but we had scheduled our next Steering Group meeting for the 11th June, four days hence. Things had been progressing by leaps and bounds in the interim. Stuart Mitchell had been talking to John Watson and discovered that John was very willing to assist in the build. On a suggestion from his wife Barbara, he had enquired of Scotmid regarding the possible use of the currently empty and advertised unit next door to the shop. An e-mail from him to the rest of us put this on the agenda – with a cautionary note – are we going cart before the horse? when we have no money and no kit?! In the meantime Mel (Alan Meldrum) was busy working up a constitution for ‘Scottish Coastal Rowing Project – Queensferry’ based on the SCRA constitution which of course, had been formed the year before.

In researching the history of rowing at Queensferry we had come across some interesting stuff. [Note from Barbara: The ‘stuff’ was so interesting it’s got its own post!]

The harbour and the ferry passage ( therefore rowing and sailing) were integral to the life of the town for centuries, but as a recreational pursuit it seems to have begun when the Navy started appearing on a regular basis. In June 1860 the flagship ‘Royal Albert’ with eight other battleships, two frigates and a gunboat arrived in the Forth at Queensferry.

This was the start of regular fleet visits over the next 30 years, with ships open to the visiting public. A Regatta was held over two days, with rowing races involving gigs, cutters, jollyboats, pinnaces and launches. However an attempt to involve local boatmen and women was unsuccessful. According to a newspaper report this was “possibly from their boats being engaged more profitably in the incessant passenger traffic going on between the shore and the fleet”.

TO BE CONTINUED…

The as-it-happened story of how our club was born, ten years ago.

Mike McD writes: Eleven people* came along to the advertised meeting in Queensferry Boat Club and after introductions and a short discussion ‘The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project – Queensferry’ was born.

‘Funding’ and ‘Building’ were the main topics, with ‘Crewing’ ‘to be discussed later’! Peter L had already looked at ways of raising the necessary £5,000 (an agreed overall budget figure), so he agreed to lead the fundraising, Several people had declared an interest in the build operation, so ‘an experienced boat builder’ would be approached to act as advisor. There remained the question of where it could be built. It was agreed those present would form the Steering Group but that ultimately a decision on how the boat would be managed (ie a Rowing Club), would be required. I was elected Chair, Graham Leith, Secretary, and Peter, Treasurer..

It was agreed that the boat should be complete by 31 March 2011 and that we would invite Anstruther to bring their boat over to Queensferry for the Lifeboat Open day on 20th June.

There would be a further 16 meeting of the Steering Group.

* Mike McD (Vice Commodore QBC), Peter L (himself), Graham Leith and Stuart Ridge (Rotary), Sheena and Ranald Mackay, and John Howell (QBC), Mathew Foster (RNLI & Q High School), Greg Wilson (RNLI), Alan Meldrum (former rower) and Stuart Mitchell (sailor, architect, etc).

Mike McD writes: 27 April – Following our meeting on the Monday evening, Peter, who had already met Alec Jordan, the boat ‘producer’, and Robbie Whiteman, chair of the newly formed SCRA, sent an e-mail to each of them. He asked Robbie if he could provide advice on funding sources, and Alec, if it would be possible to make a date for some of us to see the Anstruther boat. I went off to do some more advertising for the public meeting.

This is rather a belated post – my apologies to Mike McD! But I thought it would be good to keep his posts on the website for posterity. Over to Mike…

As you all know we celebrated 9th birthday of Ferry Lass’s launch on 17th this month.

I was reminded by Peter L some time ago that, on this day (26 April) ten years ago, he and I met for the first time, down at Antico, to chat about the potential for building a St Ayles skiff in Queensferry. Having been told by Sheena Mackay about an article in the weekend Scotsman, I had already raised some awareness locally, and placed an advert in the Journal & Gazette calling a public meeting (see below). Peter had actually seen the Anstruther boat at the Scottish Parliament, when he manhandled it in for the MSPs to see. We both confirmed our absolute enthusiasm for getting the project off the ground.

The following week the J&G did a story about the project and our public meeting was held … But all that’s to come. Look out for further bulletins as the exciting story unfolds over the year – in ‘ON THIS DAY … ‘

Peter adds: I am of course aware of the date, as I walked past Orocco Pier this morning. I called Mike before I saw his email post. We had intended to be at the bar this evening to mark the occasion and ask members to come along and buy us a pint!! It has been an exciting journey this past 10 years or more and I feel privileged to have been involved. After my meeting with Mike that is when it all came together with his knowledge and experience and as I have said before, his wonderful group of friends: John Howell, Ranald and Sheena, Stuart Ridge, Stuart and Barbara Mitchell, the late Alan Meldrum (Mel), and also the late John Watson, together with Malcolm Meikle – who led the build of our first skiff, Ferry Lass – and many more, whose names may come out of the woodwork during the posts that Mike is going to put out. Also a mention for a quiet guy, Graham Leith, who was our first Secretary and came to us from the Rotary.