About 'Woodham Ferrers Water Ski Club'

Club History

The Club was founded in 1975 shortly after the Essex County Council had compulsorily purchased land to develop the existing village of South Woodham Ferrers into the riverside town you see today.

In 1975 there was considerable pressure on the then new Crouch Harbour Authority to ban water-skiing on the Rriver Crouch.  A number of the skiers, led by our president, Trefor Oldfield-Hodge, who had been using the river for many years, decided to form a club with the backing of the British Water Ski Federation (BWSF).  This enabled them to negotiate with the Couch Harbour Authority and so the Woodham Ferrers Power Boat and Ski Club was born.  Its name was changed in 1982 to the Woodham Ferrers Water Ski Club.

Use of an old commercial boatyard, compulsorily purchased by the Essex County Council, was obtained in conjunction with the South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club which was formed at the same time.  Facilities were rather crude then, comprising of a cold water shower in an old rusting Nissen hut, a mud ramp, and by 1985 a Portacabin and Portaloo.  The concrete launch ramp was constructed in 1984 and, believe it or not, the slab of concrete originally cost over £7,500 to lay.

After some years of negotiations, a 28 year lease was granted to the two clubs by the County Council who made it clear that any development of the site was to be on a joint basis.  Eventually in 1988 the building of the clubhouse was started with the aid of grants and loans from the Sports Council, Chelmsford Borough Council, and the South Woodham Ferrers Town Council.  Originally costing £85,000 and the two clubs contributed £55,000 between them.

Toilets, showers, changing rooms, workshops and kitchen areas are located on the ground floor and there is a large first floor lounge and bar with another kitchen.  The upper floor which includes a wooden veranda overlooks the sea wall giving a pleasant outlook over the river.  The building was opened in July 1989.  By 1994 the original loans were finally repaid and the two clubs now fully own the clubhouse.  Many improvements have been made since it was built including heating, floor tiling, lighting and a completely new ladies toilet and shower facility.

Our club was for some years the largest club affiliated to the British Water Ski Federation and in 1998 we had nearly 350 members using 91 boats.

The Club has enjoyed a good relationship with the Crouch Harbour Authority over the years and our President has been both Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Crouch Harbour Authority Advisory Committee.  We continue to be represented on this committee by Phil Pope our Vice President.  We have exclusive skiing rights on the River Crouch at Brandy Hole and Clements Green Creek, the latter having calmer water and accommodating our slalom course and mooring pontoon.  Despite the whole of the river now being designated as an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) in 1990 we have been able to negotiate our continuing use of Clements Green Creek with English Nature.  A further five year period was agreed during 1995.  Aditionally our members can ski in the area east of Fambridge where the Harbour Master also issues water ski permits.  The club is concerned that its members observe all the rules of the river and show consideration and courtesy to other river users and so has its own disciplinary code.  This is policed by all club members but, in particular, by Barry Rowswell, our welfare and discipline officer.  The Crouch Harbour Authority also patrol the river to ensure that all users - not just our members - are properly licensed, behave properly and in accordance with the byelaws.

The Club recognises its responsibilities for conservation and the environment and our management committee has a specific responsibility for encouraging activities in these areas.  In 1991 the Club made a donation of £600 to the Essex Wildlife Trust towards the purchase of land in the estuary for a nature reserve.  In order to further its work in this area the Club became a Corporate Member of the Essex Wildlife Trust during 1993.  This has helped establish contacts and has helped to raise awareness about these important matters with members of the Club.  1997 was our fifth year as an Essex Wildlife Trust Corporate Member and was marked by a special presentation.

The Club is an authorised BWSF Ski Boat Driver Award Training and Examination Centre and runs regular lecture evenings and "on-the-water tests" for its members.

The members of the club come from a wide catchments area and a regular newsletter has been published for many years so that they remain informed about the various club activities that take place both on and off the water.

Although the club is primarily recreational in nature, a number of members have become involved in the growing discipline of competitive kneeboarding both as officials and competitors.

During the skiing season the club runs coaching days, club nights and barbecues.  At the end of each year a Dinner and Dance is now an established event which takes place in the clubhouse.