History of Fareham Sailing and Motor Boat Club
1850 – 1905 Fareham Rowing Club
Fareham Sailing and Motor Boat Club started in history way back in the 1800s. By 1850 there was a definite organisation in existence, at that time called Fareham Rowing Club. There were few leisure sailing craft in those days, and rowing boats were more readily available. By forming a club they were able to acquire matching “sculls”, “pairs, “fours” etc. The Crimea war restricted activities, but in 1858 the Fareham Rowing Club staged a Regatta, which included sailing races. The Club purchased two barges near Salterns and used them to store their rowing boats. The council also helped by building a “Hard” in the same area for them to move their boats in and out at low tide.
Fareham Regatta in the 1800s
On the 5th August 1878 the Fareham Rowing Club arranged another Regatta, the poster for which can be seen below. The original of this poster was framed, and in possession of the Club, but its current whereabouts is not known. If you enlarge and look closely at the poster below you will see names such as Stedham and Blackman, who were associated with the Club before and after this period.
There were a few names changes of the Club at this stage – Fareham Cruising Association and Fareham Aquatic Association, but essentially it was the same people involved. The next more substantial change to the Club came in 1905 with the change again and the formation of the Fareham Sailing Club.
1905 – 1931: Fareham Sailing Club
In 1905 the Club was restarted as Fareham Sailing Club, with Mr J T See as Commodore, Mr G H Blackman as Vice Commodore, and other Committee Members: Westerman, Sutton, Diaper, Hooper, Reader, P See, Senior, Simpson and A H Villetard, who presented the Club with its first cup.
The new Burgee was decided on, and Rules were drawn up. With another war over (The Boer War) the new Fareham Sailing Club was off to a flourishing start.
The first race of the Club took place on 29th May 1905 over a six miles course to Pewit Island. A number of the usual incidents took place. Daphne owned by Mr C Abraham carried away a rudder pintle at the start, Fleur De Lys’s spinnaker carried away in Heavy Reach, the brand new dinghy Watersprite, built and owned by Mr Percy See drew ahead and maintained her lead to the finish. A character of the Fareham Sailing Club was “Fiery Wassell”, the Club boatman, who apparently was blind.
In September 1905 Mr J T See resigned as Commodore and Mr Blackman took over. During this period the Club was very successful in racing at various regattas and races in the local area and further afield.
The annual general meeting on 31st March 1910 was dominated by sadness after the death of its 55 year old Commodore Mr G H Blackman. Mr A H Villetard was elected as Commodore, and he remained Commodore for many years, but at this time it is not known exactly when, as the history of the Club is sketchy after the start of the First World War.
Sailing seemed to have been affected badly by wars, more than any other sport; Clubs usually having had to entirely suspend activities. Always however, old Members collecting, and with some new ones, restart again when hostilities end. The Fareham Sailing Club restarted again after the Boer War, lasted until the outbreak of another war in 1914. In this war the Creek was closed for the duration by the Admiralty, and during its long spell almost all the Sailing Club records were lost, and many Members never returned from the war.
1905 – Fareham Sailing Club New Burgee
Mr L Stedham – Member of Club from mid 1800s, Treasurer of new Fareham Sailing Club, later member of FSMBC and died 1939.
1931 – 1940: Fareham Sailing and Motor Boat Club
Mr P Garrard, member of the Club before the war and writer of much of this older history of the Club, sailed in the Creek in the 1920s, pretty much on his own, with a number of other interested sailors joining him in the years until on 24th March 1931 a meeting was held at the Fareham & Country Club in the High Street. The first AGM was held on 14th April, and L V See produced the first silver challenge cup, later known as the Peacock trophy and still raced for today. It was presented to the Club by Messrs Peacock & Buchan, antifouling paint manufacturers of Southampton.
F Dyke gave permission to erect a notice board in his offices under the viaduct facing the creek. Captain W B Macdonald DSO was appointed Commodore of the newly formed Fareham Sailing and Motor Boat Club, so called because of the number of motor boats around at that time. The first Dinner and Dance was organised at the Red Lion, which was to become an annual event. The Rear Commodore sang the “Club Shanty”, a humorous tail of Club sailing antics to the tune of Tipperary.
The Club then purchased its first Headquarters, a World War I Motor Launch, which was 80 feet long and was moored close to where the Castle in the Air Pub is. The Club went from strength to strength in its first few years, but then with the death of its founding Commodore, Capt Macdonald and the departure of other key members by 1935 the Club was floundering. It ceased many of its activities and the Club Boat fell into disrepair.
1932 – The Club’s first “Home” – a 1914-18 WW1ML
Club outing to Wootten Creek – Sept 1938
Club Shanty sang at the first FSMBC Dinner Dance
Ticket to the first FSMBC Dinner Dance in 1931.
The Club revived again in 1937, after nearly being wound up, thanks to the efforts of a few, notably P Garrad, who did fantastic work in getting things going, getting things going and becoming its Secretary. There was a new Commodore, Mr A A Atkins, and the Club started to rebuild Membership, refurbish the Club’s Ship. The Club became very active up until the war with Membership reaching 100 in 1938. There were many rallies, races, rowing races, (the Club acquired rowing boats). There were talks on the Club boat in the evenings, there were dances, visit from other Clubs, the first “At Home” event in 1938, when Victories and Handicapped race boats numbering about 30 came up from Portsmouth. Even Amy Johnston, the famous aviator visited the Club at this time.
Club outing to Wootten Creek – Sept 1938
1940 – 1946: The War Years
On September 3rd 1939 war was declared, and this had profound implications for the Club. Few Members realised it would take six long years before the Club would again function. Black out regulations came into force and numerous notices came out to mariners, and the whole of Portsmouth Harbour past Bedenham was out of bounds without special passes. The general opinion among active members was that the Club should keep going as long as possible. To make matters worse in January 1940 the whole Creek froze over down to Foxbury Point, and people were skating in the middle of the Creek opposite Salterns.
Members’ numbers were reducing as they got called up for active service, btu an AGM occurred in April 1940 and Leslie See took the Chair as Rear Commodore. There were about 30 members present. One thing that was started was a “Letters Night” on the ship when members would read letters from loved ones and friends far away. On July 13th 1940 all boats were immobilised and had to be removed from the water. On Aug 18th Members saw a German Fighter appear over the Creek and shoot down a Barrage Balloon over Cams.
A massive debt of gratitude is owed to John Garrad, Hon Secretary of the Club who kept the Club going during the war, holding, on his own and the Log Book AGMs regularly to ensure things kept going. On Nov 6th 1940 W H Sutton , Secretary from the 1905-1914 Fareham Sailing Club and his wife were killed by a bomb which had a direct hit on their house in Southampton. In 1941 a Club Party was held at the Golden Lion in Fareham, where all remaining members. On 10th January the Club Ship nearly got hit from a bomb which landed very nearby in the Creek. By the end of 1941 about 50 members wre serving in the war, including 7 ladies from the Ladies Rowing Section in the W.A.A.F. In 1942/43 visits to the Club Ship reduced, in 1942 it got badly vandalised, very sadly. In 1944 prospects for the end of the War were brightening. The death of Percy See, the boat builder, was announced at this time, who had been a Mmeber of both Clubs since 1901. The Council at this stage was trying toe get the, by now, dilapidated Club Ship taken away, and was removed shortly after with permission form the Commodore AA Atkins. It finally towed away by Harry Feltham and ended up being set alight on VE Night on 7th May, 1945. What a way to go!!
Evening News Clipping – Club to Keep Going
Christmas Greetings from Leslie Birks, Sailing Secretary, in service in the RAF in Egypt.
1946 – 1960 : FSMBC – New Home
John Garrad had, heroically, kept the Club going through the war and a “Restart Meeting” held at Westbury Manor, home of Fareham Urban District Council, in April 1946. It changed to the 15th AGM, when it was realised so many had turned up and the Committee and Flag Officers were pretty much still intact. Mr Leslie See took over as Commodore from AA Atkins. Races restarted quickly with many pre-war boats taking part.
The Club then managed to acquire a new home with the lease of a rope store on the quay from FUDC, and quickly started making improvements. The Club began to change, and modernise, the Rowing Sections never re-started, but new life was beginning in the life of the Club.
In 1948 class racing was begun for the new National 12 dinghies. This was an innovation – single class replacing handicapped as before the war. Dinghies were becoming faster and lighter.
In 1949 the Town Regatta was started again. Also in 1949 winter racing started and FSMBC was one of the pioneers of winter racing on the south coast. Several keen sailors came out of this innovation, Jack Chippendale, Bruce Banks, Ian Proctor, John Oakley, John Jeffrey and Geoff Budden. Some of these went onto Olympic racing. The Roughay Bowl was donated to the Club in 1952 by Fred Dyke for the Frostbite Series and became keenly fought over and Fareham became the focus of national interest in Winter Racing.
Meanwhile Leslie See, was replaced by Mr C Knight, as Commodore, and then Mr J C Tappenden, who had been instrumental in acquiring the new Club premises, took over in 1954. By 1957 the Club was going form strength to strength, with membership increasing, a thriving Cadet Section, and continuosly improving Club premises, due to the hard work of many members. A BBC program had featured the Frostbiter Series in a program “Sport in the West”.
By the time of the October 1959 AGM was held at Westbury Manor, there were 186 Full Members and 62 Cadet Members. Things were going well for the Club and it had settled down nicely after the war and was to begin a sustained period of growth and development over the next many years to come.
Leslie See, Commodore outside FSMBC’s new home.
New Burgee – introduced in 1951
The Roughay Bowl, presented in 1952
1960 – 1980 : FSMBC – Changing Times
Captain R L Clode RN was elected unopposed as Commodore at the 30th AGM held at the Fareham Masonic Hall on 19th October 1960. At that same meeting a proposal to install a bar in the Club house was defeated, but not long after the much loved bar was built and has been a focal point of the Club House ever since. The Winter Frostbiting Series was going well, with Albacores, Enterprises and Fireflies taking over from National 12s during the winter.
In 1964 the nearby slipway was rebuilt in concrete and became a very useful launching slip, as it is today. By this time Fireballs had made their appearance on the Creek and in the Club, being made by Jack Chippendale’s business in the large wharf building.
The 1975 125th Anniversary of FSMBC
Fireflies being launched for the Frostbiter Series.
The Clubhouse was further improved with a balcony and fire escape at the back of the Club, so for the first time members could get onto the outside of the Clubhouse from the upstairs saloon.
Mr F S Drake was elected as Commodore at the 1961 AGM. By 1963 the membership had exceeded 250, and was making continued progress. The bar was in full use and bar tenders had been trained up.
Fireballs Racing for the Roughay Bowl in the 1960s
In 1964 Maurice Penning took over from Francis Drake and then Harry Mitchell served from 1967 to 1970. At this time there was a thriving Cadet section, which had a large number of Members, who used to have meetings in the loft area of the Club House and get up to all sorts of high jinks.
In 1970 John Jeffrey became Commodore until 1973, when Keith Brewer took over, who did a large amount for the Club and was an instrumental part of the team which put on the 1975 anniversary celebrations for the Club, including an historical montage of key events from 1850 to 1975. Also a history of the Club (ring bound blue book). Douglas Brook was also a big part of the 125th Anniversary and a number of events were held to celebrate. Douglas, known as Gerald, became Commodore in 1976, followed by Eric Absolon in 1971. The Club was now in good shape at the end of the 70s, with more structured Flag Officer succession and Committee structure, as well as a growing Membership, up to over 300 at this stage.
1980 – 2000 : Onwards to the Millennium
The Club continued to expand in the 1980s, with Eric Absolom taking over as Commodore from Gerald Brook in 1979, and then Douglas Farrand from 1982 to 1985.
In 1982 club members once again revised the Fareham Regatta as their contribution to Maritime England. The event was supported by more than 800 people and encouraged the Club to repeat the Regatta in 1983 and 1984, but after that it lapsed again, due to the very hard work required to put the event on, and the few numbers who’s shoulders the work fell on. Events were divers and varied, echoing programmes of much earlier Regattas in the the Creek. They included Dinghy Races, Water Jousting, Greasy Pole, Morris Dancing, Rowing and Canoeing Races. As Regattas have been so important a tradition in the Creek over the years, it was great that the Club revived it in the 80s.
Joan Walton took over as Commodore from 1985 to 1987, as was much loved by all and our first Lady Commodore. During her tenure a now firmly established part of the Creek scene and particularly FSMBC life was born……The “Fareham Lugger”. The Fareham Lugger was largely based on ideas by Paul Limburn and Adrian Bagshaw, who put their heads together and came up with a Cruiser Dinghy. It has been a hit ever since, delighting and frustrating Club members over the years in equal porions. The Lugger became the mainstay of our sailing calendar, has, the Roughay Bowl primarily became a Lugger Trophy, and numerous other Lugger events have appeared over the years, some more, and some less serious.
Barry Fordham took over from Joan Walton as Commodore from 1987 to 1991, and it was during this period that there were further significant developments for the Club, as the Salterns development was started with the purchase of the pier from the Southern Water Authority. This was the start of a major pontoon development for the Club, and has subsequently been a great asset, as the Club has subsequently expanded the number of walkways, and berths to a great extent over the years. By 1989 all the new moorings had been taken up on the new pier pontoon.
Alan Ferris followed on from Barry as Commodore in 1991 until 1993 and then Tommy Symes took over from 1993 to 1996. Again great progress was made during this period with many improvements to the Club house, including a new Balcony. Which has been a major boon to the whole ambience of the Club ever since. Chris Pain was the last Commodore before the Millennium.
Town Regatta Revival Programme – 1983
Paul Limburn and Adrian Bagshaw with the new invention!
Club house showing new balcony.
2000 – 2013: Over 150 years old.
Bill Baird was the first new Commodore after the year 2000, and during his time the 150th anniversary of the Club was celebrated with a number of events, including a large outdoor Marquee Dinner in Locks Yard. This was a tremendous event and the club celebrated in style being so old!! Bill Baird also introduced the much loved Pirate’s Day, which has become a firm favourite in the calendar for many years now and is probably one of the best things the Club does each year in June.
Pat Kinchin came after Bill Baird as Commodore from 2001 to 2004, with further changes to the Club occurring, including expansion of Salterns and further improvements to the Club facilities. After Pat came Sandy Patterson in 2004, who with Bob, were very firm fixtures down the Club and organised many events and rolled out more social and sailing events, which are now a bright part of the Club’s program.
Lugger Racing went from strength to strength with new events, such as Peewit Island and Kipps Cup, both firm favourites in the Club’s annual fixtures.
After Sandy came Dr Malcolm Newcomb as Commodore in 2007, and moves were being made to again try and buy the Club premises, which previous Committees had attempted over the years. Purchase of the Club finally occurred in 2011, when an arrangement was made with Fareham Borough Council to purchase the Club for a reasonable fee. A large party was organised to celebrate the event in February 2011. This was a major step forward in the Club’s history.
By this time Nick How had taken over as Commodore in November 2011, and further progress was made over the next few years to improve the Club’s facilities, with a further large extension of Salterns occurring, plus a new patio area and moving the Club mast.
Another event occurring about this time was the revival of the idea of a Regatta, yet again, with the Fareham Creek Regatta being held for the first time in 2011. It proved a success, with the Club and the Scouts working together to put on a Rowing, Sailing event over two days in September. It was then moved to June in 2012.
This brings us up to date and hopefully this short history of our wonderful Club will give an insight into the changes over the years. Of course a Club is only a sum of it’s Members, and whether they have been Commodores, Flag Officers, Committee Members, other Key Members, Trustees, or all our active Members, it is the many hundreds of them over the years since 1850 that make the Club what it s today.
Pirates Day – costumes, flags cannons, water fights..
Sandy and Bob Patterson in the Clubhouse
It’s ours – FSMBC buys it’s Premises
Salterns is Extended in 2012/2013
Fareham Creek Regatta – 2012