FUN DAY - Sunday April 17th 2011

Leaving the house at 6.45am for Millhouses Park, Sheffield was an absolute pleasure: not a cloud in the sky, a good start to our Spring Fun Day. Was I the first to arrive to set up for the day? Far from it, Ken and Dave had already emptied the Clubhouse of all the marker buoys. They must have camped there overnight. Within the next half hour there were a dozen (that's 12 for the modern people) of us there and it was not long before the Gazebo went up, the Club Stall erected (by a Committee of many ideas and discussions and it was done (see photo)). Frequency Control, Tombola were all in place and the member's models followed, filling the four six foot tables with an array of beautifully and lovingly built models made by members. The Club's model boat was displayed for 'Have-a-Go', batteries all charged ready to go.

By 9.00am we were ready to go and the public came into the park in their droves throughout the whole day. At one point there were almost 30 boats on the lake at the same time and Frequency Control worked so well there was not one single incident of double frequency sailing. Even the public registered their boats before sailing. The Club boat was on the lake all the time, until the batteries got so hot the connections melted together. End of Have-a-Go by lunchtime.

We had hoped to run a Junk Race however, with not a breath of wind we would still have been there now. It mattered not because the sailing was always busy, even a steam boat, which thrilled the public and members alike, not to mention the fast boats and fun boats. There was the big lifeboat, schooner, Bill's 1000 year old design boat and Mick's tow anything Tug from Kingsmill Model Boat Club. The Tombola did well and kids always seemed to win what they fancied if they drew a winning ticket. Funny that isn't it?

We had a Face Painting crew as our guests and they were doing a marvellous work of art on the kids.

By 4.00pm everyone was tired and happy while packing everything away. It had been a great day, the public had been entertained and members had a sense of having achieved something worthwhile throughout the day, not to mention the Club funds had been swollen by the Tombola, Have-a-Go and three new members. It was nice to see former members rejoining as well and members travelling long distances to come here.

On behalf of the Committee Thank You to everyone who helped the day such a success - those that helped setting up and taking down, entertaining the public by showing and explaining to them what you were doing and, the many, many visitors whom without, the day could have been the success it was.

Graham Voss
Webmaster & Publicity Officer

Photographs of the day (added as received)










Up a bit, left a bit, right a bit.
 Mmmm, now where do we go
from here?
 Call in the experts to put the
finishing touches
 OK guys, ready to roll - bring
on the boats
 Bill's Fairey Huntsman -
even the shower works












Graham's almost restored 46"
Fairey Huntsman














Mick from Kingsmill MBC
Portgarth Tug that will pull anything,
and I mean anything