Get out into the fresh air and experience a full body workout without even realising it with Bath Canoe Club…
The Old Organ Factory, situated on the banks of the Avon in Bath, was used by William Sweetland, a well-known Bath-based organ maker in the 19th century. Built to resemble a chapel, both aesthetically and acoustically, the striking building has been given a new lease of life by its current tenants, Bath Canoe Club (BCC).
BCC, which leases the building from Bath and North East Somerset Council, have used the building as a clubhouse in some capacity since the mid-1970s. After receiving a total of £100,000 in grant money from British Canoeing and Sport England last year, BCC has redeveloped the inside of the building and extended a small mezzanine area into a complete upper floor, now home to a classroom, a social room and a mixed use area.
The river access has also been widened and upgraded to make carrying boats down to the bank easier and safer.
Originally the brainchild of previous chairman Paul Carrol, who now heads up training of the BCC junior racing team, the project has been guided to completion by current chairman Ashley Matthews and his committee of volunteer kayakers, who keep the club running.
Quartermaster Sue Spurling recently attained another £9,573 in grant money from Sport England’s ‘This Girl Can’ campaign for smaller-sized canoes and sea kayaks which are lighter and more suitable for female paddlers.
BCC hopes the improved clubhouse and new boats will encourage people in the local area to get paddling. The club offers kayaking and canoeing courses in the form of Saturday-afternoon taster sessions and four-week training courses which run throughout the summer.
Kids, adults, families, beginners and improvers are all welcome so BCC has something for everyone whether they’re wannabe white water stars, future seaside adventurers or just want to glide along the Avon in a canoe.
As well as being lots of fun, kayaking provides a full-body workout and is a great way of meeting people with many trips end in tea and cake or a visit to the local pub.
So pop along, give kayaking a go and meet the volunteers that make BCC such a fun place to be.
For more details, visit: bathcanoeclub.co.uk, Twitter: @bathcanoeclub, Facebook: Bath Canoe Club.
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