East Farm Notes

East Farm in 2009

The changing rooms were in use for the 2009 season, and upstairs a kithchen was installed and used. The extrernal disabled toilet, required under the terms of the Disability Act, has been under construction during 2009 and is expected to be operational within the statuory period.

From Steve Waterall 13th June 2008:

The latest news on East Farm conversion is that the downstairs ladies and gents facilities are finished and in full working order. After many years of using very basic facilities we now have brand new toilets, showers and changing rooms.

Since October 2007 members have volunteered skills and time and have worked many evenings and weekends to carry out joinery, decorating, tiling, electrical installation work and general labouring. We have employed tradesmen to do plumbing, building, plastering, ground works and flooring. The main target of being completed for the Dart 18 GP 25th May was achieved due to a lot of hard work by many members.

A big thank you to everyone who has been involved in this, including people from the main club who have worked hard behind the scenes ensuring the lease and financial matters are kept under control.

There are still many areas to complete on the conversion, this includes fencing to erect, patio area to finish, gutters and facia to complete. This along with the general maintenance load at Blyth Park (grass cutting, maintaining buoys, rescue boats, tractors, fences and general repairs) means that we will still be busy and need volunteer helpers. I hope to have a small working party one night each week for this.

On the bigger picture the 1st floor is not finished, a meeting room or lounge area is planned for the front rooms and a basic kitchen in the smaller room at the back along with storage and cleaning supplies etc in the cupboard room. There is not a vast expense here as most of the fabric of the 1st floor walls, ceilings and joinery are done. The other main areas we have to complete are disabled facilities which will be located at the back of East Farm in place of the lean-to building (this is probably a winter project).

Please use the new facilities and keep them in a clean tidy and condition. The immersion heater switches next to the tanks need switching on if prolonged use of the showers are required, otherwise use the electric shower (one in ladies and gents).

The code for the door is the same as the old changing rooms and is on the main notice board in the transline (same yale key as normal).

Thanks and let's go sailing!

Steve Waterall

From Steve Waterall 13th April 2008:

Blyth Park is not quite operational yet, although a few boats were out today. Some essential jobs are to do before racing can be held: tractors are not working, rescue boat trailers and equipment need sorting out and the bouys need laying.

We need help to get the basics in place very soon, I am holding a working day next Saturday 19th april and possibly on the Sunday as well if weather conditions do not allow sailing. Please help if at all possible. There is also work to do on the farm house conversion. The plumber should start this week and there items which need finishing like tiling and painting.

Lets get out sailing soon its been a long winter!

Thanks in anticipation

Steve Waterall.

From Steve Waterall 4th April 2008:

Another excellent working day was held last Sunday 30th March. Many thanks to all who helped there were about 20 members again and all the jobs listed were completed to a high standard.

The plan to have the ground floor of East Farm with working showers and toilets for the Dart 18 GP on 25th May is achievable. However a further two working days will be required probably one late April and one mid May, I appreciate we are now into the sailing calendar and committing to two Sundays may not be good for people who wish to race, one possibility is to do two Saturdays or work Sundays if the weather is not suitable for sailing. I will decide on the dates soon depending on the progress with contractors.
Local members have also put in a couple of hours some evenings, and I hope to continue this now the nights are drawing out.

Work completed to date by members including work done on the 30th:

About 60% of the tiles have been fitted and grouted by members.

Most of the emulsion painting has been done although there are some areas which need finishing especially the edges there is some new paint on site and any member can assist with this please.

The electric lights have been fitted and are on a temporary supply although these need testing by a qualified electrician.

Some door frames have been fitted and other joinery tasks, but there is still quite a lot to do.

The floor drains have been excavated ready for traps to be fitted.

Most of the stair case walls and wood have been prepared for painting, there is still quite a lot of preparation to do, again materials on site if any one could help.

Work by contractors:

Local builder Ben Roberts has done an excellent job over the past 3 or 4 weeks, all the 1st floor has been plastered and any repairs done to internal walls and ceilings, all 3 old window openings bricked up and he has constructed concrete block dividing and screening walls to the showers and toilet cubicles. Ben has been paid to up to date, but we still may need his services for the final floor level screed and other exterior works.

Plumber Neil Garfitt has been given the contract for the supply and fitting of the entire plumbing system this includes hot water system, showers, toilets wastes etc. This decision has not been taken lightly as is a big chunk of the budget, but I believe the correct one as it will move the project forward quickly towards the goal of being useable for Dart 18 GP. Neil will start work on 11th April and will take up to 2 weeks.

Our own Ex commodore David Armstrong has the floor coverings in hand and has negotiated an excellent deal on a non slip waterproof vinyl system for all the ground floor. There will be costs involved in the fitting, but David has his contacts for this. He has also donated a large quantity of reclaimed carpet tiles for the 1st floor, these are in storage at the garage at Windsor Crescent and is a job members could tackle.

Ongoing work by members:

Obviously there is still a tremendous workload and whilst I don’t want to slow the work on the 1st floor the ground floor rooms must take priority the main areas are:

Tiling and grouting
Door frames, doors and other joinery
Gutters and drain pipes
Benching, lockers hooks
Electrical 2nd fix, hand dryers, fans etc
Finish painting and decoration
Improve exterior appearance ready for use this spring/summer
John Jenkinson has agreed the loan of some joinery equipment which should make some tasks easier

Some of these jobs are semi skilled but helpers are appreciated at any time, please contact me if you can help in any way. Once again thanks to all who have helped up to date, on the site and also in the kitchen feeding the workers.

Steve Waterall
0773 0000656

From Steve Waterall 23rd March 2008:

LOTS DONE AT EAST FARM RECENTLY AS SHOWN BY ATTACHED PHOTOS. I HAVE A VARIETY OF JOBS FOR NEXT SUNDAY, 30th MARCH, INCLUDING PREPERATION AND DECORATING, TILING, ELECTRICAL 2ND FIX, JOINERY ETC. HOPE TO GET LOTS OF HELPERS.

From Richard Dunk 6th March 2008:

Richard has, over the years, put in a huge amount of effort into the Blyth Prk development project, particularly in the legal, financial and administrative areas. This is his latest take on where we are and how we got there.

From Steve Waterall 28th Feb 2008:

THE NEXT WORKING DAY WILL BE ON SUNDAY 30TH MARCH

Report on 24th Feb from Duncan Baines:

The day started of bright and early with me and Steve turning up about 9am after figuring out exactly what we wanted to achieve over the previous few days and nights.

We set to work with Tony Bell getting there before us we were confident that we were going to get quite a lot of work done through the day. As the morning went on people were arriving left right and centre and asking what jobs needed to be done, as Steve was doing his usual "I'm a worker not a supervisor/organiser" trick. Some people found it hard to find him because he was hiding on the roof fixing some damage from the wind the previous few days! By 11am the catering team had arrived namely Rowena and Jane and the first of many cups of tea/coffee were handed round with a few of us in need of some pain killers from the night before. Soon the work carried on and by dinner time the skip was full and the back garden was almost clear thanks to Gary, Cherryll and Matt, with Ken and Diane Porter and their tribe of kids helping.

As we broke for lunch the upstairs was half plaster-boarded thanks to myself and John Rycroft with Richard Innis lending his expert hand the day was set to be a success

After a fine spread of sandwiches, sausages, pork pies and another round of drinks it was back to work to finish off the plaster boarding and the odds and ends that were left. With Chris Maw doing an expert job on the brickwork and rendering and Steve still running around doing jobs and giving out work a fire was started to burn of all the old material and wood that we didn't need.

By 4pm the day was nearly done with the downstairs ready for monday morning and the plasterer and the upstairs with only a few bits of plaster board to be put on the wall I looked at Steve to see a massive smile on his face and a grin from ear to ear. (see Gallery)

The day had truly been a big success. Between us all we had achieved more than both me and Steve thought we would; more people had turned out than we could have imagined, and to put icing on the cake you can now see the farm starting to take shape as our new toilet and shower room.

A big thank you to every one that took the time to come and help us and a big thank you to the Rowena and Jane for sorting the food out and keeping the workers happy with cups of tea/coffee.

As I am sat writing this I am happy to say the plasterer has started and the downstairs is almost ready for the next phase of painting and getting ready for tiling. There is still a very long way to go till it's ready for the season, so help is always needed. If you can spare a few hours on a weekend just email Steve Waterall or phone 07730 000656l a call and I am sure he will fill you in on what's going on and when we will be next up there working.

Thanks again to every one that took part on Sunday and I hope the next working day will be as big if not bigger

Duncan Baines 27th Feb 2008

Progress Report From Steve Waterall 20th Feb:

Hi All Members,

Steady progress as shown in the latest photos, thanks to Alan, Lynn, Gordy, and Duncan 17th Feb. Lots of work planned for next Sunday 24th Feb (saturday if any one is self motivated to clear the site outside filling a skip with rubble) - the skip will be delivered on friday.


Previous note from Steve:

Significant progress is being made on the conversion of East Farm into our new changing rooms. The building contractor has now finished the initial phase and we now need input from the members for the next stage of the work. Several of the members from the main club have put considerable effort into securing the remainder of the £25,000 funding from Yorkshire Forward so it is important for us to continue with the practical work.

There will be a working day on East Farm on Sunday 24th Feb. from 9am onwards. Any help would be much appreciated.

Tasks involved include both skilled (joinery, plaster boarding, tiling etc) and unskilled jobs (filling skips, clearing rubble, preparing walls etc) so there is something for everyone! It would be good if people could bring tools along.Hopefully snacks and drinks will be provided.

The latest photos of East Farm progress are in the Gallery.

Thanks

email Steve or phone 07730 000656