After many years of planning, development and fundraising, we are delighted to announce the opening of our new boathouse. This milestone marks the culmination of an eight-year journey since the project was first conceived. We extend our sincere thanks to our principal supporters, the Quintin Hogg Trust, whose generosity has been instrumental in making this vision a reality, and Chiswick Rowing Trust for negotiating a new 25 year lease of the site and enabling the fitting out.
We would also like to express our gratitude to all those members who contributed their time, expertise and support throughout the project: Mark Chatwin for helping design the layout of the Boathouse, Aubrey Capel for managing the building process and fitting out, Simon Hunt for keeping the site running whilst the works were in progress and making the Boathouse ready for occupation, William Medlicott for organising the finances, Jo Midgley for organising the opening party. Thanks also to architect Chris Boyce of Assorted Skills and Talents, and to Dan Tatu the Site Manager of Claremont who was so helpful on the day and throughout the redevelopment.
At the start of proceedings, Quintin Club Captain Duncan Hughes welcomed our guests, including Dame Mary Hogg (patron of the Quintin Hogg Trust and great-granddaughter of our founder Quintin Hogg after whom the club is named), Barry O’Brien (Chairman of Chiswick Rowing Trust), Andrew Saunders-Davies (chairman of the Quintin Hogg Trust).
Other guests included: Anne-Marie Phelps (currently acting as a vice-president to World Rowing); her husband and long term friend of Quintin, Richard (chair of Henley Royal Regatta); former Quintin member Tom Solesbury (about to take over as the new Chief Executive of British Rowing); Lynne Berry (chair of the University of Westminster Governors); Professor Peter Bonfield (the President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Westminster); James Coates (the current Captain of the University Rowing Club; Will Williams (head of Kew House School); Phil McGee (head rowing coach at KHS); Laura Ellener (head of Chiswick School); the men’s and women’s captains of Imperial College School of Medicine Boat Club; Fred Smallbone (sometime coach at QBC), Luke Howells (chief umpire for the Quintin Head and Chiswick Regatta); Keith Mahony (President of Mortlake Anglian and Alpha BC); Hilary Cook (Captain of MAABC), as well as many former members of QBC.
Duncan then officiated over the naming of three new boats for the club. Sally Peters, who coxed at the club in the 1970s and ’80s and is the wife of club president John Peters, anointed her namesake eight; Jackie Eastwood, who coaches at the club and is also coach for Chiswick School and Grove Park Sculling Club, did the same for our new quad scull; Joanna Embling named the third boat “Joanna Embling”. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Quintin Hogg, Joanna has been instrumental in getting the rebuilding project beyond just a vision.
Barry O’Brien, the Chairman of the Chiswick Rowing Trust, then gave a speech, which was followed by another from Andrew Saunders-Davies, Chairman of The Quintin Hogg Trust. Dame Mary Hogg was then called upon to cut the ribbon, allowing the celebrations to commence with refreshments served in the clubroom and guided tours around the new building.
Our new clubhouse has provided us with :-
- a bigger modern boathouse with 7 boat bays
- four modern changing rooms that can be interconnected and configured for juniors, men and women
- a large bar which is bigger and more suited to the events space
- a fully equipped kitchen
- a new cardio gym and weights room on the 2nd floor of the building
- disabled access by means of a lift to both floors
- a large terrace that will provide space for social and community activities.
Visitors will have noticed a reminder of the old boathouse in the form of the oak benches in the new changing rooms. These have been refurbished at the club’s expense and even bear the scars of the fire caused by the incendiary bomb that caused so much damage in 1944, although the charring is happily hidden from view.
During the afternoon we had to say au revoir to Ellie Paterson who very quickly made her mark in the club, coxing the “barflies”, coaching the development squad and sitting on the committee. Ellie has recently qualified as a doctor of medicine and is leaving to take up her first placement in Ireland. Ellie was presented with a small gift from the club members in appreciation of her efforts. We hope she will be able to return to the club before too long.
A selection of photographs of the event may be found at https://quintinboatclub.org/gallery/index.php?ref=3713.
