Column in Wilts and Glos Standard by Chris Roberts

1. Bowmoor Sailing Club plans to celebrate its 50-year anniversary on June 27 and 28.

The club will celebrate with a fun-packed party, including food, disco and a live band.

More information to follow.

Bowmoor Sailing Club started out as Horcott Sailing Club, sailing on a small lake on the outskirts of Fairford with 130 members.

In 1975, the Colne Gravel Company, which also owned the Horcott lake, completed work on a 120-acre lake at Bowmoor.

In 1976, Horcott Sailing Club moved to Bowmoor Lake and officially became Bowmoor Sailing Club.

Claydon Pike Sailing Club and RAF Somerford Keynes Sailing Club decided to join the new Bowmoor Sailing Club, and the latter club brought with them their clubhouse and their bar licence.

A few years later, Keynes Park Sailing Club moved from the western end of the Water Park to Horseshoe Lake on the outskirts of Lechlade.

This move did not work out, and Keynes Park joined Bowmoor.

Each club had their own traditions, and Bowmoor Sailing Club grew to become much stronger with a variety of boats, with regular racers including Enterprises, OKs, Otters, Solos, and Optimists.

Over the years, Bowmoor continued to expand and doubled the size of its clubhouse with the donation of a building from the Metal Box Company.

The club has always had a policy of supporting youth, became the first Volvo Champion Club in the country, and has since produced many champions from the youth fleets, which is an excellent reflection on all the people involved.

1. Fairford Tennis Club has enjoyed one of its strongest years yet, with membership rising sharply, especially amongst young people, families and newcomers to Fairford.

   Youth coaching has also grown substantially, and the club entered two Winter League teams for the first time in years.

   In addition, the Summer Tournament drew its biggest turnout ever, with many new members lifting trophies.

   Alongside this success, the new clubhouse project is making excellent progress.

   Plans have been submitted to Cotswold District Council, and a decision is expected soon.

   The Ernest Cook Trust is supporting the club, and the clubhouse is on track for completion next year.

   The new clubhouse will provide modern facilities for members, including an integrated toilet, a kitchen, an indoor seating area and a community space for coaching sessions, match-days and club events.

   It will give the club a much-needed base that supports year-round activity and enhances the experience for players of all ages and abilities.

   If you’re considering joining the club, the new membership year begins on April 1, and you can join via: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/fairfordtennisclub/Membership/Join.

   Local support remains important, and anyone wishing to learn more, offer practical help, or discuss sponsorship or donor opportunities, should contact Richard Jeffreys at richard.jeffreys@me.com. 

2. World class jazz violinist Ben Holder will be performing with an all-star jazz trio led by the exciting Italian classical / jazz pianist Marco Marconi on Saturday, February 14 at 7.30pm in the Palmer Hall. They’ll be presenting music from George Gershwin, Billy Joel, Duke Ellington and more! Tickets cost £22 from 07704 297119 or www.thejazzclub.uk.
3. From Monday, February 16, Fairford Library is changing its opening times. Open Access allows library members to access certain libraries outside regular staffed hours. The service enables you to: Borrow and return books using self-service kiosks; Use study areas and public computers; Access free wi-fi. To use Open Access: Speak to a member of staff; Complete a brief induction; Use your Library card and PIN to enter the library during Open Access hours. Visit www.gloslibraries.uk/your-libraries for up-to-date Open Access hours.
4. Lent is on the horizon with Ash Wednesday falling on Wednesday, February 18 and St Mary’s Church Fairford will be offering Lent Groups to help reflect through this special season of preparation. For Wednesday afternoons – contact Rev’d Denise for more information; Thursdays from 4pm via Zoom – reading the Archbishop’s Book for Lent: Dancing to the Heartbeat of God. Contact Rev’d Caroline for more information; Fridays at 10.30am starting on Friday, February 27 study Paula Gooder’s Lentwise course for five weeks in the Church Room led by Rev’d Vicky.
5. Business Connect’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 18 between 5pm-7pm in Fairford Cricket Pavilion, GL7 4JJ. This will be another opportunity for local businesses and community groups to socialise and liaise to make a difference in the local community and the wider community throughout Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Through Business Connect membership, it’s possible to champion local initiatives and fundraising projects, support local causes, and make a meaningful difference to the area in which we live and work. Already, many local businesses, charities, good causes, community groups and clubs, school PTAs and sports clubs have felt the benefit of joining Business Connect. Future meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of each month between 5pm-7pm in Fairford Cricket Club pavilion, so please make a note in your diaries to come along, socialise, meet other local businesses and community groups and discover how you can make a difference.
6. The next meeting of Fairford History Society (FHS) will be an afternoon meeting at 2.30pm on Friday, February 20, not Thursday, February 19 (as previously stated), in Fairford Community Centre. Edwin Cuss will give a presentation titled Fairford in Close-Up. Tea and biscuits will be served at 2pm. There’ll also be a used book sale with proceeds going towards new FHS display boards. FHS membership remains at £5 a year and visitors are charged at £3. For more information, contact Alison on 01285 711768 or email enquiry@fairfordhistory.org.uk or visit www.fairfordhistory.org.uk.
7. Lechlade History Society’s next meeting will feature a talk by Bill King entitled: Industrial Archaeology in your Garage, Shed and Attic, on Monday, February 16 at 7pm for a 7.30pm start in Lechlade Memorial Hall. You do not need to travel far to see evidence of our industrial past. A short tour around your home will reveal an abundance of industrial archaeology without having to brave the elements of a dig. Bill will take the audience on a light-hearted trip in the average home to explain about the industry that was once in Britain. For more information, contact Ros on 07826 114088.

8. There are lots of free activities at Lechlade Community Library as part of National Storytelling Month. On Wednesday, February 18 from 11am-12 midday, there will be Story and Rhyme Time, suitable for three to six year olds. Also on Wednesday, February 18, from 2pm-3pm, there will be Active Poetry for five to 10 year olds. On Thursday, February 19 from 10.30am-11.30am, seven to 11 year olds are invited to Step into a Story. Parents/carers need to stay in the library during the session. Some activities will be provided for parents to do with siblings who are not in the target age range.