‘Our original boathouse has been oversubscribed for years,’ said CRA President, Bill Key, ‘and we have been looking for a site for a second boathouse for a very long time. We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Camrowers to build on the very last available site on the Cam. This was the last chance for a brand new boathouse in Cambridge and we are indebted to the support of the Combined Colleges and of the City Council that owns the site. It means that CRA can provide more facilities for our Affiliated Clubs, especially those that have nowhere of their own to store boats.’
The project is very much a first for Camrowers, a unique non-competitive rowing club for older people and those with disabilities. Its 90 members are mainly in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, and most have learnt to row with the club. ‘We have never had a home of our own,’ said Chairman Paul Ray, ‘and to have a purpose built boathouse is a dream come true. We plan over time to welcome more new members and offer more rowing sessions. Members themselves have raised over £100,000 towards the project and we owe them and all our funders a very big thank-you.’
A major part of the funding - £250,000 – came from the City Council’s S.106 fund. ‘The City Council was really pleased to be able to step in and provide the final element of funding for the project,’ said Richard Johnson, Executive Councillor for Communities. ‘The result is a new community boathouse, which will enable more people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in rowing.’
There was also £75,000 from Sport England Inspired Facilities Lottery Fund and further grants from the Amey Community Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation. The £670,000 building was designed by Architects Saunders Boston and built by contractors Millcam.
Daniel Zeichner welcomed the new boathouse as a real contribution to helping Cambridge residents keep fit and healthy. ‘Exercise is so important for us all,’ he said. ‘The more we all exercise, the healthier we are. This project is a great example of people working together to improve access to exercise and it will enable many more people to enjoy rowing on the Cam.’
British Rowing has seen the project develop from its very beginnings. ‘Our very first GP referral scheme took place in Cambridge in 2001 and that led to the creation of Camrowers,’ said Annamarie Phelps. ‘Rowing helps improve both physical and mental health and this very special boathouse will give access to an even wider range of people in the community.’
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