So, our boats are out of commission, Christmas has been and gone, the boat show has just finished and we should be thinking about the new sailing, boating and fishing season ahead.  I know I am, and determined to get afloat as much as possible this year.  However some of us have got to go through the ritual of cleaning and preparation for antifouling  etc.

Our next social event is horse and greyhound racing on 7th February at 19.00 hrs in Robin’s Shed, South Street.  It will cost £4 per head which includes a cold supper.  Please see the notice in the clubhouse or my previous e mail message with details.

Talking of the clubhouse, if you have recently been inside you will see that re-decoration of the hall, stairs and landing is underway.  This has turned out to be a bigger job than expected (always the way with an old building).  All the plaster on the walls was loose so we have stripped it off to find lathes and battens.  At the time of writing this we are in the process of putting plaster board on ready for skimming with new plaster.

Please make a note in your diaries/phones /tablets that our AGM will be on 23 March 2015 at 19.30hrs in the Venture Centre, Lawford.  I will be handing over the helm to a new commodore.  The 3 years have gone very quickly.

I thank you for your support, help and advice during my tenure and look forward to still being involved and helping to keep our club a great place to be a member of.

My wife  wishes to intervene at this point.

“ I would like to thank everyone for their support to me during David’s illness last year.  I had many notes, cards and offers of transport to Basildon Hospital which I was very touched by.  I am also grateful to the members who took David out on the river whilst he was not allowed to be on his own and those who miraculously appeared at the end of the slipway to help recover his dinghy to the compound.

Thank you so much.”      Linda.

It is planned to have a pie and pudding night in the club at fitting out time so I hope to see you then or in the West Compound before lift in  which commences on 20, 21,22 April 2015.

David Warner

Commodore.