CLUB HISTORY
In the beginning
The MMBFC began its existence in 1952
and at that time the premises were a half-boat on the promenade
opposite what used to be the Canopic, then became the Sea View
Restaurant and later a block of apartments. Members Held their
early meetings in The Pilot public house.
Among those who formed the Club were
Miss J Barnes, Miss D Gammon, A Harris, A M Henderson, George
Howells, P B Kift, Charles Kostromin, S Lewis, R Stroud, Ivor E
Thomas, Mr Wyatt, Alf Boyle, Ron Edwards, Bill Owen, Tony Walker,
Herbert Rott and Jesse Webbon, and around 170 members were
attending the meetings, paying 1s 6d for each meeting. The early
meetings were held in the Pilot public house.
1953 Committee
Eventually, when the 'old school',
previously a Church school, Church boys club, Little theatre,
Badminton club, and asbestos factory, became vacant and available for
rent the Club decided to rent the building from the
Somerset Trust. With the proviso that the Club kept the building 'in
a reasonable state of repair'.
A
committee was formed under the chairmanship of Mr Ivor Thomas with Mr
Reed as secretary, and the name Mumbles Motor Boat and Fishing Club
was adopted. The room used for the early meetings was in what became
the beer cellar. The annual subscription fee was set at 5 shillings
and unfortunately, this led to the Club getting into financial
difficulties for the first time. These financial difficulties were
overcome with great determined effort.
The
next Commodore was Arthur Owen, who held the position for a period of
six years. During that time the membership gradually increased, to
such an extent it was decided to hold a dinner dance in the Pier
Hotel. This proved to be such a success that it was made an annual
event. Another outstanding event which took place in the old club
building was a sausage and mash meal, complete with trimmings. A
local butcher member provided the sausages and he dressed in all his
butcher regalia and along with a few lady members cooked and served
the meal.
Around
this time with the Club doing so well it acquired its first boat, a
112ft ex-M.T.B hull vessel. Over the next few years the boat was
moored in several places in the bay. Unfortunately, it kept breaking
loose and finally finished up on the beach where it was burned by a
local 20th century 'wrecker' for the bronze fastenings.
About
1961 the condition of the roof of the Club building was so bad that
the Somerset Trust decided that it was not viable to repair and
decided to sell the building. With this event, a substantial
increased Club membership and with members keeping upwards
of 300 on its mooring at Mumbles, the building was
purchased by the M.M.B.F.C
Following
several Club meetings it was decided to rebuild the Club house,
incorporating a hall for building and repairing boats, with a club
room and bar above boat hall. Len Rees, Herbert Rott, George Hill,
'Paddy' Taylor and several other members commenced the rebuilding by
removing the roof, demolishing the rear wall and one end wall. The
start date of the rebuilding the back wall was marked in a cement
patch in the cliff face at the rear of the Club house. By this
voluntary labour, and using the skills available within the
membership, Members developed the old school site and constructed a
large boat hall with club facilities on the ground floor, and a
banqueting/dance hall with bar and kitchen on the top floor.
The
building of the new Club house took the members of that time about 9
years, with the exception of the Foc'sle Bar, which was a later
addition installed by Club members. In the end the Club had a
club house which everyone could be proud of, and especially so, since
it was built by the members, for the members.
The
Main Hall was call the 'Bermuda Room' in recognition of the cruiser
HMS Bermuda. The first bar facilities of the Club came from her when
she was being broken up at Wards of Briton Ferry. It was on the top
floor of the building, with a large bar, stage and dance floor. The
capacity of the Bermuda Room was 220 people and this where the Club
held its discos, live bands, concerts and other socail
functions. From the windows there was a great view over the roof tops
of the local houses of Swansea Bay and part of the moorings.
Underneath the Bermuda Bar there was a large workshop for boat
building and repair of boats up to 16ft.
To
assist in fetching up and taking down boats from the clubhouse there
was a winch that helped to take out most of the effort required for
this action. There was also a reasonable amount of space around the
building for storage of small dinghies and punts. Separate from the
main building the members also constructed a storage building for
outboard motors and oars.
The
Club issued to members with boats a Coast Guard form C.G.66, which
was filled in by the owners with all the particulars of their boat,
including owners address and an alternative shore contact address.
This form was then kept at the Coast Guard to assist in finding the
boat if it went missing or was overdue from a trip. The owner could
also have been contacted should the boat break free from its mooring.
The
Club was also RYA Affiliated and ran regular radio and navigation
courses. A full programme of fishing competitions was run during each
year with shore and boat events that culminated in a Prize
Presentation Evening in the clubhouse. The Club also organised
fishing trips to Ireland.
There
was also a cruising section within the Club for those people
interested in motor and sail cruising. Regular cruises of the
local waters were arranged in the summer months with BBQs and over
night stays. These members also cruised in convoy over to Ilfracombe
for weekends.
In
its heyday the Club had almost 400 members, it was very active and
ran regular fishing competitions from both boats and shore, and the
premises were in regular use for Club activities. Pool and dart
competitions were also held, along with participation in the local
leagues. Live music was put on at weekends in the Bermuda Room. The
clubhouse was very popular with members and guests for birthday
parties, anniversaries, meetings etc. At least four functions
each year were run to benefit charities including cancer research and
the NSPCC, which were always well supported. In the early years the
Club levelled part of the old railway to provide hard standing for
boats and dinghies at Village Lane and extended and improved the
slipway. Around this time more than 300 members' boats were moored
off Knab Rock.
Members having a BBQ, probably at Oxwich beach. If you recognise any one please let us know
