Bournville Radio Sailing and Model Boat Club
About the club
We are a very established club located in the picturesque garden village of Bournville, Birmingham. We aim to sustain and introduce new members to the hobby of radio sailing and model boats.
The club has a very active radio sailing section that sail the following classes of yachts: - International one Metre (IOM), 6M (Six Metre), 36" , RG65 and Dragon force.
The sailing section meets on Sunday mornings for racing and Wednesday mornings for informal practice and racing
The Model Boat Section has a focus on electrically powered models. (Models with internal combustion engines are not permitted on the lake at Bournville).
The model boat section meets on Sunday afternoons and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Several scale events dedicated various model types are held during the year with our illuminated regatta being the final event of the year before the winter.
Facilities
Tea / Coffee
Toilet & Disabled Toilet
Free parking
Disabled access to club house
Disabled access around the whole pool perimeter on a tarmac path
History
The club was originally founded in 1923 by Messr's Cadbury Bros Ltd and initially used the lake in Rowheath park.
The pool we see today was completed in July 1933 and was officially opened on August 19th 1933 by Mr Edward Cadbury who hoisted the club flag while Mrs Cadbury started the first race. The Pool and Boat house were the result of the Cadbury family carrying out an experiment in practical philanthropy. The pool was constructed on an unused area of land that was boggy and full of trees by 64 men. Some of the men were Cadbury workers who were displaced during the installation of new automated equipment in the factory, the remainder came from unemployed people in the local area.
The boat house was purpose built in 1933 for the storage of model boats and to provide a refreshment facility for members. The huge wooden doors and the high ceiling facilitate the movement of a fully rigged model yacht. The boat house was altered at the rear to provide extra storage and expand the members facilities area. In 2007 further works were undertaken to provide toilets and a hot water system. In 2019 the members area was expanded, the building rewired and the lighting improved with LED lights. The pool was refurbished in 2022 by Birmingham city council.
On the 27th February 2025 Historic England granted the clubs boathouse and pool grade 2 listed status.
