CLUB HISTORY

The current Club was formed in March 1953, as the result of a meeting between three individuals, in a cafe on the Osnaburgh Parade. It was situated between Over's old departmental store and the cinema opposite Yorktown Primary School. Bert Oten (the proprietor) George Hemsley (a builder) and Ewen Stephens (deputy head of the Yorktown School) decided to start the Club that traces its origins back to the 1930's, when it met in Watchett's Park behind the Grammar School, which is now Watchett's Junior School.

Later the Club's Head Quarters was the cricket pavilion in the London Road Recreation Centre, now behind the Arena Leisure Centre. The Club stayed at that location for a number of years using a concrete garage as its equipment store. In the 1970's the then local authority, Frimley and Camberley UDC, persuaded the Club to move to the old council rubbish dump behind the current refuse collection site in Wilton Road. The authority had planned a more elaborate athletics stadium, but the World Bank made the Labour government of the time pull the plug on such schemes and eventually we were returned all our monies given to the scheme and forced to pay corporation tax on our surpluses. The track was laid out as a near circle and due to the location we suffered interference and burglary. Eventually we were forced to move to France Hill School, now King's International College, in Watchetts Road and were made most welcome by the then headmaster Ken Sadler. While at the school a movable classroom became vacant and the Club rented it from Surrey County Council. Head Teachers at the school accepted the title of Club Vice President and have all made us most welcome ever since. We use the outside facilities provided by the school for its pupils, so we are never involved in the expense of setting up the field for track or field, we merely hire the facility.

The Club has amassed a considerable amount of equipment over the years, much of it begged or borrowed. Grants for equipment over the years have come from our local council, The Lions and Toshiba, who assisted us with the purchase of an ex-Surrey County Council mini bus.

The Club has boasted many fine athletes with Jonathon Dennis gaining in one season, as an Under 17, all major national cross-country titles, Inter-Counties, English Schools and National individual titles. Many of our athletes have represented both Surrey Schools and clubs in national events. We currently have three members who have gained County honours.

In Sept 2006 we became only the second Athletic Club in Surrey to achieve the 'Clubmark' accreditation from England Athletics in recognition of commitment  to excellence in Club organisational policies and procedures.

Last updated: Sunday, 29-Oct-2006 11:09:52 GMT

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