Elton Boat Club

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HISTORY

January 1973 saw the creation of the Elton Boat Club at Warmington Mill. Four members of an existing boat club at Peterborough, on hearing that a lease was up for renewal at the Millhead at Warmington, decided to form their own club. At that time there was already boats moored at the Mill belonging to the Aylton Cruising Association, but not much is known about this club or it's history. 

Advances were made to the Estate regarding the lease and so the Elton Boat Club was formed. In the early days the site was vastly different to that of today. The Millstream was overgrown and what is now the Clubhouse was a derelict bam complete with manger which incidentally remained until September 1993, when it was removed to make way for improvements to the kitchen. 

Word of a new boat club at Warmington soon spread and with increasing membership it was possible to provide all the necessary requirements of a boat club, namely water, electricity, sewage disposal and the all too important slipway which enabled people to take their boats out of the water for the necessary maintenance, (there's always something to do if you own an boat). The moorings for the boats were built and the site was landscaped. The Club was able to occupy a small comer of the Mill to use as a workshop, the rest of the building being used by Mr Short to keep chickens. 

In 1980 the club met it's claim to fame when the site was chosen by the BBC for the setting of a film called " Fair Stood the Wind for France" which was later seen on television.

The club has seen many changes over the years. The mill was devastated by fire in October 1992 and the club lost the workshop and all it's contents. In 1996 the Warmington by-pass was constructed which completely transformed the river area. A new approach road was laid and car-parking area created. 

April 1998 saw some of the worst flooding to hit the region and Warmington was no exception. Although we escaped fairly lightly compared to other boat clubs, we still lost one boat due to the river rising rapidly and swamping a wooden cruiser. As a result of the Easter floods, the Boat Club now participates in a flood watch scheme, which is run by the Environment Agency whereby certain members are telephoned automatically and warned of impending flooding so that we can take necessary action to prevent any damage occurring to the boats.

THE BOATING CALENDAR.

March or April is the traditional start of the boating year, the river being closed to navigation during the winter months due to high water levels, making it impossible to get under some of the bridges on the river. Many boats have come to grief on Fotheringhay Bridge for example. 

Further up-stream we can cruise through Oundle, Lilford and on to Thrapston and eventually all the way to Northampton, where the River Nene joins the Canal system. Here there is a stretch of narrow locks called the Northampton Arm where the larger boats have to turn back but the small cruisers and Narrow Boats can continue up to the Grand Union Canal. Going down-stream the larger boats have all the fun. They are able to cruise down to Peterborough via Wansford and Orton and enter the tidal stretch of the Nene at the Dog In A Doublet sluice near Whittlesey. 

From there on it is tidal through Guyhim to Wisbech and out to sea at Sutton Bridge and the Wash. Not for the faint hearted, although several of our boats do complete this journey by going out to sea and back in on one of the other rivers such as the Ouse at Kings Lynn. If the salt water does not appeal then at Peterborough, it is possible to join the Middle Level system of drains and cruise through the Fens via March in Cambridgeshire, and join the Ouse at Downham Market in Norfolk.

If all this sounds like too much hard work then what could be better than cruising up to Fotheringhay, which should take no more than 15 minutes, and enjoying a lazy Bar-b-Que on the river bank and simply watching the world go by. Great for a Sunday afternoon.

Other social events that the Boat Club enjoys are the Annual Rallies organised by the Association of Nene River Clubs, of which Elton is a member. These are held in June each year at different boat clubs along the river. At our Club we hold our own events such as Dinner Dances and Bar-b-Ques and the Open day, usually in September, is always very popular, especially the boat trips which are provided for the visitors to enjoy.

At the time of writing (November 2000), Elton Boat Club has about 100 members and moorings for 42 boats. The club is run by a committee consisting of a Commodore and Vice Commodore. The Secretary, Treasurer and Harbourmaster make up the team along with up to 10 general committee members. We have our own gardener who cuts the grass and keeps the site neat and tidy. Our members come from as far away as London and Leicester as well as having a few who are resident in Warmington. We all have a common love of messing about on the water and genuinely enjoy what we are doing.

Long may it continue.

Steve Turner.