History of the club

In 1953 it was suggested that three Sea Scouts might like to form a Canoe Club. With three other recruits the six founder members inherited some old Sea Cadet premises and 50 years on Worcester Canoe Club is celebrating 50 years of Canoeing.

In those 50 years the clubs members have, among other things, paddled the Grand Canyon, competed in Olympic Games, World and European Championships, taken canoeing holidays all over Europe and the UK, won the National Interclub Marathon Championships 6 times, organized innumerable Marathon Races and Slaloms and hosted National Championship events, broken the world tub paddling record ………

With over 100 members for at least the past 30 years the club has introduced many many people to the sport of canoeing be it for recreation or serious high level sport. All of this has been achieved entirely based the voluntary services of its members. It has been estimated that current members probably paddle more than 35,000 miles per year, and that over the past 50 years well over a 1000 people have between them paddled well over a million miles! Currently around 135  juniors and adults are actively involved each year with many more visitors enjoying the clubs facilities at events throughout the year.

The Club’s first premises comprised half of the Cities old swimming baths located in a cordoned of section of the river and associated changing rooms, previously occupied by the Sea Cadets with the Sea Scouts occupying the other half.. The founder members refurbished the buildings in the early 60’s turning them into boat storage, workshop and club house rebuilt the landing stage and built their own boats. Most boats were made of wood and canvas, some folded up for transport and storage and the earliest sprint boast were made of wooden veneer.

The clubs first major trip took place in 1956 when about 30 members spent a week camping and cruising down the Wye from Hay to Monmouth and since then club trips have taken members all over England, Wales, Scotland and to many rivers in Europe.  

By the late 50’s club members were taking part in long distance racing, surfing, slalom, sprint racing and camping tours and by the early 60’s the club was establishing itself as one of the countries leading organizers of racing and slalom events hosting national championship long distance events and slaloms at Builth Wells, Llandysul, Bransford and Bevere.

The 1960’s saw the clubs first competitors representing their Alan Edwards and Glen Palmer representing the country at many events including the Tokyo and Mexico Olympics

In February 1965 with a growing membership and need for more space the members were looking for new premises. With the assistance of a kindly benefactor members were lucky enough to acquire the old Kings School Boat House on the Hylton Road. Again the building needed work and was rebuilt with the enthusiasm of its members to provide one of the best club houses in the country at the time.

From these new premises the Club hosted many National Championship Marathon events and numbered among their members international paddlers. By the mid 70’s the existing River Sports complex on the Eastern bank of the river was being planned and the club spent many hours raising funds and subsequently building its existing premises. The existing Club House finally opened in November 1985. The financial assistance of the City Sports Council  prior to the advent of lottery funding was crucial in securing the finances needed for what was once again the leading canoeing facility in the country.

The club still values amongst its members some individuals with very long associations with the club. Chris Skellern one of the first members to represent the club and country in slalom and white water racing is an active member winning the over 50’s White Water Race World Cup Event at Bala in 2002. Mick and Robin Powell who joined the club in its very early days are regularly cruising on the river or helping maintain the club house. Brian Cubberley founder member and treasurer for many many years sadly died recently whilst still a member of the club.