Rowing club's 70k appeal for refit of new home

The club's modest headquarters on the seafront are being redeveloped as part of Next Wave but then it's down to members and supporters to foot the bill for refurbishment.

Club spokesman Matt Mitchell has appealed to the town for support.

He said: "Last year, four members of Bexhill Rowing Club raced across the Indian Ocean raising money for The Stroke Association.

"All of the money raised went towards their chosen charity. It is now time for the Bexhill Rowing Club to raise funds for their own development.

"The existing club house will be knocked down and redeveloped starting in October this year. The handover back to the rowing club is anticipated to be April next year.

"The handover will only be for the "empty shell", concrete walls, floor, ceiling and roller shutter doors. It will then be down to the rowing club to carry out the complete "fit out" of the property from electrics , heating , changing facilities , wall tiling , lighting , flooring andboat storage."

The anticipated cost for this work is around 70,000.

Matt said: "This work is not part of the development project funded by Rother District Council nor the taxpayer, but must be funded by the Rowing Club and its members."

Thanks to continued achievement and success, the club has come to the attention of rowing's governing body British Rowing ,which has promised its backing to the development of the club in the coming years.

Matt commented: "Their support is hoping to help raise further interest in sponsors showing that they not only deal with Olympic rowers, but are focusing on more 'grass roots' clubs.

"With their help, the club will also bedeveloping the junior and female sections of the club.

"Anyone wishing to help support the rowing club either as a volunteer to help with the fundraising,become a sponsor or to donate moneytowards the development are asked to contactthe Development Committeeeither in writingto 31 Woodsgate Park, Bexhill TN39 4DL or ask for a senior member of the rowing club at thetraining sessions noted below or via our social club.

"On behalf of the whole of the Bexhill Rowing Club, we would like to thank all those who have supported us over the years, especially at regatta times.

"We have just two regattas left, Royal Dartmouth and The Championships where we will be proudly representing our town once again.

"The club will be holding a presentation later in the year where everyone will be invited to see the amazing haul of trophies that the club has collected this year. The date for this will be announced nearer the time."

In the meantime, the club is inviting anyone wishing to visit before the building is demolished to come down on Sunday mornings between 10:30-12pm and Tuesday or Thursday evenings between 6-8pm.

Racing crews will be training away from the club in preparation for their coming races, but letters of support can be passed down to the Social Club at Channel View East ,Bexhill, East Sussex TN40 1JU.

Mark letters for the attention of the Rowing Club captain, Doug Holdaway.