History of the club
The club was founded in the late 1950’s by a group of teachers from Hullbridge. Their initial aim was to provide outdoor activities for the benefit of schoolchildren. Their chosen activity was sailing, a sport they themselves enjoyed!
A Wooden chalet was obtained and sited at Hullbridge which formed the clubhouse. The first instructor joined the group in 1960 as the number of members grew. Sadly, a few years later the lease at Hullbridge expired and was not renewed.
There appears to have been a link between the teachers who initiated the club and NALGO during the early years, with restricted membership. Some years later the two groups divided – NALGO departed to form a cruising yacht club and dinghy sailing continued to be the chosen option of the teachers, who moved the club to Stubbers Adventure Centre in Upminster.
As time progressed the teachers lost interest and Club membership became available to anyone who wanted to sail. Around 1975 the Club relocated to Grangewaters a few miles away. The site was barren with no clubhouse or buildings available for use. The late 1970’s saw Thurrock Council acquire the site and the building of facilities began. As Grangewaters facilities grew, a powerboat group began using the lake. Sailing dinghy’s and powerboats trying to use the same water proved to be a disaster for the Club!
H.S.C. dinghies began to incur damage by other uninsured lake users, thus Grangewaters as a site became no longer viable. In 1985, H.S.C. returned to Stubbers which was then under the ownership of Havering Council and run by Rick Grice. During Rick’s management H.S.C. enjoyed free use of the water at Stubbers. Sadly, in 1986 Rick, a climber, was killed by a fall. The climbing wall in Stubbers is named in his memory. Essex Boys Clubs acquired Stubbers shortly thereafter.
The earliest expenses for H.S.C. in its present form are dated 19th October 1977. A later expense sheet dated 23rd January 1978 shows the cost of the Club’s yearly subscription to have been ten pounds!