Victoria Park Model Boat Club
Formed as the victoria model steamboat club in 1904, by a number of boat modellers that frequently met at victoria park lake, the club has embraced hydroplanes almost throughout their entire existence, from the ‘heady days’ of 8mph top speed to the staggering record currently held by club member norman lara at 135mph.. Inspired by lucinda douglas-menzies’ photo essay on the victoria model steam boat club, i walked over to victoria park yesterday to meet keith reynolds, the secretary, a sympathetic man with an appealingly straggly moustache, who had agreed to let me take a look at the club’s photographic collection.so, as the members got steam up on the lakeside, i sat inside the club house and sifted. The oldest model boat club in the world, the victoria model steam boat club, founded in the park on 15 july 1904, is still active today and holds up to 17 of their sunday regattas a year. the vmsb club runs straight-running boats just as they did 100 years ago but have also progressed to radio controlled boats and hydroplanes..
Spitalfields life contributing photographer, lucinda douglas-menzies became fascinated by the victoria park model steam boat club while out walking in the park. over successive sundays, her interest grew as she went back to watch the regattas, meet the members and learn the story of the oldest model boat club in the world, founded in 1904.. Surrey park model boat club is located on an ornamental lake known as "surrey dive", which was once a derelict clay pit. the city of box hill also asked for suggestions for uses of the lake. a small group put forward the idea of a model boat club. the city embraced the idea and a club was formed.. Full title reads: "victoria park, london". london. various shots of model speedboats racing around the boating lake in victoria park. they travel at high speed. crowds of people watch. cu as people prepare boat to sail. vs of model boat - presumably radio controlled. n.b. item found in unidentified gazettes reel. presumably from 1930s gazettes..
