THE PORT NEWS
Alan Shinton
Victoria HS, Ellesmere Port - New Season, New Club HQ, New Start
The closure of the Stanney Lane Royal British Legion Club in Ellesmere Port saw a dramatic change which in turn brought about what could be considered a traumatic time for the members of the Victoria Homing Society. Having had their headquarters at the Legion since 1963, it is hard to believe that after 40 years of continuous patronage the club has closed for good and, as all great clubs in this great country, has been readied for demolition. This has probably been the same theme for many a fancier throughout the UK over the last ten years but not all are so lucky as the Victoria to have a strong leadership along with a longstanding membership and members willing to respond to its managements call to help resolve the issue. With the original Ellesmere Port Flying Club amalgamating or being absorbed into the Victoria Club, it was envisaged by many that the Victoria could have folded and the members dispersed to find another club which would probably have been the Hooton HS who are based at the Little Sutton Legion; in fact initially the Victoria approached the Stanney Lane Legion (or its management committee) for assistance with regard to relocating to their premises. After initial talks and numerous meetings the Victoria were allowed to utilise part of the Hooton HS premises with the view to a possible sharing of the premises with Hooton HS. This was nearly the case as the Hooton HS committee and members allowed the Victoria HS to store its baskets through the winter and also enabled the testing of the manual clocks still in use to be put through the their way test at their premises. This has been very much appreciated and the help received was both refreshing and also enabled a smooth transition for our membership to our new premises and sincere thanks are sent by our membership to the president and members of the Hooton HS.
After initial approaches to the Whitby Sports and Social Club (and receiving an overwhelming welcome and reception to join their club and utilise their premises) it was decided by a majority to pursue a new headquarters at these premises. Those of the fancy that have attempted to start or move a club will appreciate the work involved. Finding a unit or portable building suitable for sale and within budget took some time and a lot of patience. But with enough eyes and ears to the ground a unit was finally located, procured and delivery arranged. It was now that the work had to begin in earnest.
Now the work begins
The title is both correct theoretically and also practically as Maurice Thornhill and his band of helpers swung into action. The area designated for our premises was a patch of rough ground that required levelling, some equipment required removing and then hard core and a timber frame base inserted to enable site and level the building. This took the team a week of hard graft and considering the weather we encountered through March was a triumph in itself. Once considerations were made and different avenues explored with regard to our acceptance at this very illustrious club venue, it was then time to prepare the ground which involved some movement by hand of over twenty tons of hard core and the siting of railway sleepers and flagstones to act as foundations for the new portable building. Again this work was arranged and coordinated by Maurice along with his foundation team of Ronnie and Richie Denny, Arthur Wilde and Cavan Green. After the area was levelled and in his usual “no messing about” style, Maurice arranged the delivery of the portable building. Finally on the 28th March, and only 9 days before the scheduled start to our racing season, our building was delivered, sited and levelled at our new premises. A 95% turn out from our membership rallied to Maurice’s call for help with this stage of events.
From This
The closed (and due for demolition Stanney Lane British Legion)
To This
The Whitby Sports and Social Club, Ellesmere Port
Once the building had arrived and was in position, it was now time to consider the altering of the interior to suit our requirements, insertion of a steel door to enable access and egress for the baskets and painting to ensure the club looked the part within its new club premises. After begging and borrowing people's time, effort, materials and equipment, the unit was modified, painted, connected to services and even landscaped to such a standard that we are now in a position that we have a club HQ that we can all be extremely proud of.
It was now that detailed work began with Maurice Thornhill, Arthur Wilde, Sid Arathoon, Peter Thornton, along with Ronnie and Richie Denny altering the interior of the building in readiness for the fitting of a new centre door entrance and a relining of the interior and painting of the exterior. Gary Jones a local steel fabricator and all round “good guy” assisted Maurice with the new door, which he fabricated, welded, delivered and sited. Thanks Gary, your help and assistance at this stage was paramount for this club to achieve its goals with regard to ease of handling panniers during racing.
It is always worth remembering that when you as individuals decide to take up this great hobby, the work involved is never a chore and neither should it be, but when it comes to running and arranging such things as what we have experienced at the Victoria, the work generally falls to one organiser, and usually his small band of helpers, who on this occasion from the onset of arranging the new premises fell upon our leader Maurice Thornhill.
After receiving the news that our federation (West Cheshire Fed) had cancelled the first race due to the inclement weather in the build up to the commencement of racing the building was completed and readied for its first race. Carl Curran then jumped into action by loaning the club his van to enable the panniers to be removed from storage at the Hooton club and brought down to the new premises.
The Victoria Homing Society Ellesmere Port are now the proud owners of their own building on the grounds of one of the largest and most successful social clubs in the locality and as such have guaranteed some further longevity to our hobby in the area.
The new building
Thanks
It just remains to offer sincere thanks from all the Victoria membership to the Little Sutton British Legion Management Committee for their initial help when we found ourselves in need. Also thanks to the president and members of Hooton Homing Society for their help with regard to giving us some light at the end of the tunnel when we found ourselves homeless, and for allowing us to share part of their premises during our “upheaval” period. Also a special mention for our scribe Ken Sharratt. Ken is taking a sabbatical from the pen this season and is trying to concentrate on his pigeons. Ken has given his own time and expense to cover the Port News and we as a club would like to extend our deep gratitude for the effort, time an indeed the effervescent writings of one of our own. We can't wait for him to return to his editorial desk, but until he does "Ken, thanks from all the membership". Last and by know mean least a huge thank you of course to our stalwart leader Maurice Thornhill for his forethought guidance and extreme enthusiasm which has enabled this idea turn to reality. Maurice, this is the legacy that you can look back on with pride.
The Grafters
Ronny Denney and Cavan Green
Maurice Thornhill
Richie Denny
Arthur Wilde
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