West Riding Sailing Club destroyed by fire
by John Gledhill 21 Jul 2005 08:55 BST
18 July 2005
West Riding Sailing Club's clubhouse is destroyed by fire © John Gledhill
SAILING CLUB IS HIT BY SUSPECTED ARSONIST
A clubhouse at West Yorkshire’s oldest sailing club was destroyed in a suspected arson attack on the evening of 18th July. Fire fighters fought for five hours to try to save West Riding Sailing Club’s clubhouse after the alarm had been raised at about 8.00pm.
It is thought that a gas cylinder was deliberately used to start the fire, causing an explosion which blew off part of the roof and front, setting blaze to changing rooms, a boat storage area, and a bar and function room. About half of the two-story timber structure was gutted in the attack but it is thought that the building will have to be demolished.
Club commodore Hamish Gledhill said: “I was called to the clubhouse soon after the fire had started. By the time I arrived the front of the building had been blown out. It looked pretty catastrophic. Fortunately no one was inside the building at the time of the fire. We shall have to find a temporary base for the time being, but it looks like we are going to need a completely new building.”
The building was insured and despite the loss of accommodation, a decision has already been made to go ahead with the events planned for the rest of the year, notably a Fireball open meeting on 24-25th September and a joint Laser and Solo Northern Travellers event on 2nd October. Discussions are to be held with the Fireball Association to confirm the feasibility of a two-day event, but the Laser and Solo events will definitely go ahead as planned.
Founded in 1937, West Riding Sailing Club is one of the largest and oldest sailing clubs in Yorkshire with 400 members and 200 boats. The clubhouse was built soon after the club was formed. The club is based on Wintersett Reservoir, about five miles South East of Wakefield.
West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that the incident is being treated as suspicious.
Meanwhile the club has been heartened by the expressions of sympathy and support that have flooded in. The club welcomes any help or advice from other organisations who have suffered a similar loss. Contact can be made via the West Riding Sailing Club website at www.wrsc.org.uk