Who Are We?
We are a collection of some 70+ individuals who share a common interest in model boating. We are based at the lake in Southchurch Park, in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in the UK. Within the Club there’s a wide range of interests and modelling skills. Our membership ranges in age from the very young, through to the young-at-heart!
We hold events for Scale Steering and Fast Electric racing and there’s also an enthusiastic band of ‘sail’ enthusiasts, sailing everything from Thames Spritsail Barges though to modern racing yachts. There is however no hard demarcations between the various classes of models, or modellers’, and we all get along together just fine. Our membership fees are a very modest £20 a year and we welcome new members.
We hold events for Scale Steering and Fast Electric racing and there’s also an enthusiastic band of ‘sail’ enthusiasts, sailing everything from Thames Spritsail Barges though to modern racing yachts. There is however no hard demarcations between the various classes of models, or modellers’, and we all get along together just fine. Our membership fees are a very modest £20 a year and we welcome new members.
Contact Us
To contact us for membership details, event information, or regarding website content, please e-mail:
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Other Events?
The Southend Model Power Boat club is represented at the following shows and exhibitions:
Blackwater Country Show - near Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex.
Wings 'n' Wheels Spectacular - North Weald, Essex.
Weymouth International Maritime Festival - Weymouth, Dorset.
Barleylands Country Show - Barleylands, Essex.
Southern Model Air Show - Hop Farm, Kent.
Blackwater Country Show - near Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex.
Wings 'n' Wheels Spectacular - North Weald, Essex.
Weymouth International Maritime Festival - Weymouth, Dorset.
Barleylands Country Show - Barleylands, Essex.
Southern Model Air Show - Hop Farm, Kent.
History
The area now containing Southchurch Park was presented to the town of Southend-on-Sea in 1895 from three landowners, Messrs. Baxter, Dowsett, and Ingram. The park itself was completed in 1927, and has within it's perimeter two lakes. The east lake is a dedicated nature reserve, and the western lake is also a nature reserve, with the most western section allocated to model boating.
The lakes in Southchurch Park are the only remnant of the Great Western Mere, which was drained and reclaimed in 1870 from the Southchurch Marsh (a large lagoon that consisted of two Meres that stretched from the Kursaal to Bournes Green and Thorpe Hall Avenue).
Model boating in Southchurch Park is a pastime that is traceable back to the 1920's, however in 1948 seven gentlemen from the Southend Model Yacht and Railway club formed the Southend Model Power Boat club.
During these early years models were either straight running, or tethered. Tethered craft ran around a central anchor fixed in the centre of the lake, typically at high speed, until it's fuel was expended. Straight running craft were launched from one side of the lake and aimed, across the lake, at a number of marked posts forming a gate. Scores were accumulated according to accuracy of passing through the gate. One or more catchers would would be positioned at the far side of the lake and would receive the craft, and return it.
Motive power was typically supplied by diesel, glow and steam, however rubber, and clockwork motors were also used. Later on electric power became more common, and in the mid 1950's early radio control systems became available.
Model boating in Southchurch Park continues to this day, and in 2008 the Southend Model Power Boat club celebrated 60 years of model boating with it's diamond jubilee.
The lakes in Southchurch Park are the only remnant of the Great Western Mere, which was drained and reclaimed in 1870 from the Southchurch Marsh (a large lagoon that consisted of two Meres that stretched from the Kursaal to Bournes Green and Thorpe Hall Avenue).
Model boating in Southchurch Park is a pastime that is traceable back to the 1920's, however in 1948 seven gentlemen from the Southend Model Yacht and Railway club formed the Southend Model Power Boat club.
During these early years models were either straight running, or tethered. Tethered craft ran around a central anchor fixed in the centre of the lake, typically at high speed, until it's fuel was expended. Straight running craft were launched from one side of the lake and aimed, across the lake, at a number of marked posts forming a gate. Scores were accumulated according to accuracy of passing through the gate. One or more catchers would would be positioned at the far side of the lake and would receive the craft, and return it.
Motive power was typically supplied by diesel, glow and steam, however rubber, and clockwork motors were also used. Later on electric power became more common, and in the mid 1950's early radio control systems became available.
Model boating in Southchurch Park continues to this day, and in 2008 the Southend Model Power Boat club celebrated 60 years of model boating with it's diamond jubilee.
