Newsletter 1 ... 1955

Newsletter No. 1
I hope to make this Newsletter a regular feature, so that everyone can keep in touch with Club affairs.

We have suffered a great loss in the death of our President, Mr P. G. Hopcroft, J. P. The amount of good he did for the Club is something that cannot be told, and he devoted a great deal of his time and energy in the Club's interests.

Rowing
We have not been able to start the season with any great success. Most of the rowing men are still studying, consequently they cannot devote as much time to training as they would like, but hope to get more training in after this month. We were not able to send any of the lads to Evesham Regatta. The Ladies crew were entered but were unsuccessful. The nexy regatta we are going to is Stratford, and I hope that as many members as possible will try to go down and cheer the crews on. It is very heartening to hear someone shouting for you from the bank. So, please back them up whenever you can.

Regatta
Our own Regatta is on June 25th. You will be getting a few Raffle Books to dispose of. Please do all you can to sell them - there are plenty more! Last year the raffle brought in over £60, and we want to make it even more this year.
Tennis
The Tennis Courts are in good condition. Please come and use them. We hope that we will be able to get the Hard Court down this year. It will create a lot more interest, but unless we can get more money in, we shall not be able to do it.

Bar
We have re-stocked the Bar, and now sell Double Diamond, Nut Brown, Pale Ale, Stout etc. There is also a full range of Soft Drinks. We have added Rum to our Spirit List, so that you now have Whiskey, Gin, Rum, Port, and Sherry, with all the necessary additions. So, come down and have a night out. It is very pleasant sitting in the Lounge, and if you feel energetic, you can play a round of clock golf on the lawn.!
Pleasure Boats
The Pleasure Boats have been overhauled during the winter, and are now in fine shape. They are all rather old, but you should find that they do not leak. Mr Preece and our Steward, Mr Whitefoot have done a first class job with the material they had. Paid up members may book the boats if they wish.

Subs
Thinking of Paid-up Members reminds me - we are now half-way through the Season, and I have only received about 15 subscriptions so far. Have you paid your's yet? The improvements we want to do this year, cannot be carried out without the money, and I have hardly enough to pay the running expenses of the Club. The rates alone amount to £20, and they should have been paid last month. We want to try to get the Hard Court down, the walling on the River front finished, and most important, we MUST, if we want to carry on in competitive rowing, change all our Boats from fixed pin to swivels. That will also mean more sets of blades and they cost £6.00 each. So, you can see, we must have the Subs paid earlier in the year than has been the case so far. If you look in the Rule Book, Rule No. 7 states that:- "The Subscription is payable on or before the 1st day of June, and for Junior Members, on the 1st day of April.

Membership
We are most anxious to increase our Membership by 100%. If you have any friends who are not Members, please talk to them about the Club, bring them down and get them to join. If everyone in the Club got just one more Member, we would have our 100%. The Secretary will be looking out for your name supporting an application for Membership. Please do your best, and remember - the Club will only look active if Members come and make use of it.

Committee News
Most of the last Committee was taken up with Regatta work. The following Members were elected to serve on the grounds Sub Committee.
Mr R. H. BartonSecretary, 80 St Johns Ave, Kidder
Mr L. S. WardBoat House (outdoor)
Mr P. H. WhiteParking Space (T/Courts)
Mr R. G. HughesGardens
Mr A. W. Brookes }
Mr T. S. R. Jones }Fences

A full list of the various Committees will be posted in the Club so that you will know just who to see about the various parts and activities of the Club.

Newsletter No. 1 by J. L. Perry June 1955