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Archive Review Archive
Woodside Avenue, Eastleigh. SO50 9ES
History
Compiled by Wilf Paskins, member since 1945
Woodside Avenue, Eastleigh (Continued)
Next was the heating system, the various alternatives were considered and an oil fired warm air ducted system was chosen for two reasons, firstly because it was considered the best way to provide ‘instant’ heat throughout the building, secondly because Robinsons made such heaters, oil tanks and ducting. A traded-in heater was acquired and completely rebuilt with a special combustion can and heat exchanger and the ductwork which I was able to engineer was made up and fitted by Robinsons sheet metal shop manager. This was all suspended, above the ceiling, from the steel structure. A little more building work was required to house the heater itself and to provide the support and regulation bund wall for the oil tank.
The ceiling presented a problem as it threatened to cost more money than we could afford bearing in mind that we needed to provide tables and chairs, water heaters and other fitments. This was solved by rashering-up sheets of plywood in Robinsons woodshop to form the egg-box arrangement we still have today. It is now painted white but was initially silver as this was one of only two colours of paint used in Robinsons paint shop. The cover material was originally cheap white polyethylene film. Tables were purchased from the firm who supplied Watneys, the brewer and chairs, at a bargain price, from Rickman Engineering (yes, the same manufacturer as the Mettise motorcycles) where Neville Goss was production manager. Then attention was directed to cleaning up the outside, laying and rolling hoggin to form the car park and laying two concrete strips for motorcycle parking. We also built a fence along the allotment side which we were required by the council to do.
The project took nine months to get to the stage when it could be used and the official opening, to which dignitaries from the world of motorcycle sport and others were invited, took place in January 1972. Total cost came out at £4,030 complete with the basic furniture and fittings and the Club still had £1300 in the bank as a result of the sporting events held in the year.
Next was the heating system, the various alternatives were considered and an oil fired warm air ducted system was chosen for two reasons, firstly because it was considered the best way to provide ‘instant’ heat throughout the building, secondly because Robinsons made such heaters, oil tanks and ducting. A traded-
The ceiling presented a problem as it threatened to cost more money than we could afford bearing in mind that we needed to provide tables and chairs, water heaters and other fitments. This was solved by rashering-
The project took nine months to get to the stage when it could be used and the official opening, to which dignitaries from the world of motorcycle sport and others were invited, took place in January 1972. Total cost came out at £4,030 complete with the basic furniture and fittings and the Club still had £1300 in the bank as a result of the sporting events held in the year.
The Committee Room and Cloakroom were added in 1975 at a cost of £567
Later the access road and car park were improved by laying a few loads of truck mixed concrete at a cost of £1,400.
The Games Room extension was added in 1981 at a cost of £1,800 and the wood block floor and carpet tiles cost £700.
The Games Room extension was added in 1981 at a cost of £1,800 and the wood block floor and carpet tiles cost £700.
Inside the Clubroom, ‘dressed’ for a formal occasion
I don’t quite know why I have written my account of the building of the Clubhouse in the way that I have. I don’t think my motives were egotistical, I suppose I just felt that an account of some sort had to be written and that I had to put on record something that showed recognition of the contribution made by Robinsons of Winchester Ltd. in allowing me to use their good offices and facilities for the benefit of the Club. Without this contribution, the Clubhouse as we know it today, would not have been built. No doubt we would have put up a building of some sort but I don’t think it would have been of comparable quality,
My regret in writing the account is that my memory does not allow me to recall the names of the many members who devoted so much of their time and effort towards the building of the Clubhouse and I have deliberately not mentioned many names in my narrative. I have chosen instead to list the names of those that I do remember and, to the best of my recollection, what they did. I apologise to those I have not included and, if anybody reading this has a better memory than I and wishes to add, or change, what I have written, I would have no objection. Apart from the bar and the fitting of the heating installation and ducting, I didn’t do much of the work myself but, as the Architect, Engineer, Quantity Surveyor, Clerk of the Works and Purchasing Officer, I think I can claim to having done most of the worrying.
My regret in writing the account is that my memory does not allow me to recall the names of the many members who devoted so much of their time and effort towards the building of the Clubhouse and I have deliberately not mentioned many names in my narrative. I have chosen instead to list the names of those that I do remember and, to the best of my recollection, what they did. I apologise to those I have not included and, if anybody reading this has a better memory than I and wishes to add, or change, what I have written, I would have no objection. Apart from the bar and the fitting of the heating installation and ducting, I didn’t do much of the work myself but, as the Architect, Engineer, Quantity Surveyor, Clerk of the Works and Purchasing Officer, I think I can claim to having done most of the worrying.
A Club run leaving the Clubhouse
Special thanks are due to the wives and families of those members who devoted so much of their time to the Clubhouse, particularly as many of them were also involved in the promotion of the four road race meetings we ran at Thruxton, the two scrambles and two trials the Club ran in the same year. As Club Treasurer I was involved in all six of the speed events and, taken together with the building, my family saw little of me that year.
The building of the clubhouse realised the ambition to provide a suitable base from which the Club could pursue the promotion of it’s sporting activities and, I am sure that those who contributed will share my satisfaction to see that, although the Clubs motorcycling activities have changed, the Clubhouse is perhaps even more important to the Club today than it was when it was built. Personally I am gratified to see that it is being used to such good effect.
