HISTORY
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CLUB
1971 - 2007
Inverclyde Phoenix Car Club
began it's life in 1971At that time it's sole aim was to provide an affordable vehicle maintenance facility for members but, two years later, our present President, Mike Etherington, took over as Secretary and our present Competition Convener, Vince Cannon, also took office on the Committee - the section began to change.... and the Car Section became known as Rankin Park Car Club.
Both Vince and Mike had a particular interest in the promotion of Road Safety and were regular competitors, and award winners, in the Police Road Safety Driving Tests - Vince, a professional HGV driver, twice beat off challenges from some of the top drivers in Scotland - to go through to the UK wide Lorry Driver of the Year finals.
Between them they persuaded the members to make Promotion of Road Safety an aim of the Club and, in August 1973, the Club held it's first Road Safety Driving Contest, Drive-In '73, and, in September of that year, an informal childrens' "cycle - safe" event. Both took place in the weighbridge yard of Greenock's last Sugar Refinery, the "Westburn" and, although no formal records were kept at that time, it was minuted that the Drive-In was won by the late Willie DeLussey, who was to go on to be Vice-President of the Club. Willie's work still features in our Competitions, as he hand carved the Club's "Wooden Spoon" award.
The Club was fortunate at this time to have advice and assistance from Provost Jimmy Boyd, chair of the Scottish Accident Prevention Committee, whose experience in the promotion of Road safety was (and still is) second to none. Jimmy was later to become a life member of the Phoenix.
The Club also received a great deal of support from the then local Police Road Safety Officer, Willie Mustard, who is also a life member of the Phoenix, and part of Willie's duties involved teaching Cycling Proficiency in Primary Schools, so it seemed to be a natural progression that the Club provided a follow up to this......and so the Cycle-In Primary Schools' Road Safety Contest came into being. Unfortunately, as with many innovative events, no formal records were kept for the first few years - until 1977 - when the Club elected a Road Safety Convener....
That first Road Safety Convener was the late Algy
McQuarrie, who was an Inspector in
the local Special Constabulary and was totally dedicated to Road Safety,
particularly for children. He organised the Club's Cycle-In for ten years,
before illness forced him to stand down, when his office was filled by one of
the Club's most energetic and popular members, the late Jim
Hotchkiss, who held that post until
his untimely death at the age of fifty-nine years. Jim's successor, Gary
McEachran,
is every bit as dedicated and enthusiastic as his
predecessors, and his efforts have greatly increased
the number of participants. He has now been joined by former Strathclyde Police
Road Safety Officer
Duncan McNeil,
with professional driver
Willie Hogg
completing the Road Safety
team.
Cycle-In was, and still is, very much a team effort, but it is fair to say
that these four members have made a tremendous contribution towards
making the Cycling/Road Safety event a success story that has lasted for over thirty years.
The first recorded winners of the Cycle-In were two 11 year olds - in the girls' section, Shona Byng of Ardgowan Primary and, in the boys' section, Ian Douglas
of Lady Alice Primary.
The '70s were a boom time for members and it was at that time that Jeremy (Andy) Binner became a member. Although he was only a member for a short while, before a career change meant a move away from the area, his membership was play an important part in the
future development of the Club.
Andy was responsible for introducing the rest of his family to the Phoenix and, from that time onwards, the "Binner Clan" were the main source of marshals for the Road Safety events. By the beginning of the next century around ten members of the family, spanning four generations, from great grandfather Ted to great granddaughter
Natasha, were in attendance at the
Cycle-In.
Perhaps the main reason for the Club's stability is that, since Mike moved from Secretary to become Club President in 1976, the Club has had only four secretaries:- the late
Billy Gillespie; Jim Munro; Malcolm Docherty; and, as of 1997, Campbell Sinclair, and only three Treasurers:- Jimmy Houston; Ted Binner; and, as of 1998, Heather Sinclair.In 1982, for various reasons, the members decided to separate from the social club and to form a completely autonomous Car Club. It was decided to temporarily rename the Club the "Red Phoenix Car Club". The prefix "Red" was added because the Club still had a supply of badges bearing the letters
R.P.C.C. - for "Rankin Park Car Club"!If the Club was to retain the interest of it's members, new workshop premises
had to be found without delay and, with little funds this was not going to be
easy...
Mike and Malcolm took on this task and, within two weeks, an old "Bowmonk"
garage, formerly used as a plumbers store, had been purchased for the princely
sum of £45, with the site rental fixed at £2.50 per year.... Mike had raised
the funds for this by buying an ancient Austin Mini for £30 and selling it on
for £75.
This was only to be a temporary home for the Club, and negotiations took
place with the now defunct Strathclyde Regional Council to attempt to secure a
workshop at Neil Street. This failed to materialise because the Council had the
property earmarked for other purposes.
Later that year our present premises in South Street became available.
The premises had firstly been used as a workshop for Army Vehicles, then for Police Vehicle Maintenance, before being taken over by the local Council as a repair shop for their Mowing Machines and, after a great deal of "behind the scenes" work, particularly by Malcolm, the then practically derelict South Street workshop became the Club's permanent home.The Club's Bowmonk garage was sold for £75, and Malcolm and Mike set about clearing out over forty years accumulation of junk from the new premises - eventually filling two large skips with various items including no less than twenty-two lawn mower engines, five almost complete motor cycles, and even truck tyres and other parts from the Army's wartime use.
The workshop had an upper floor, formerly an office and a store - but no stairs to that area!
As the Club had really no income until the fees were due in March 1983, the Club acquired and fitted a 10 pence coin meter to assist with payment of electricity accounts. That same month Ted Binner took over the office of Treasurer, and began the modernisation of the accounting system by producing the annual balance in spreadsheet form.
At the Club's AGM in March 1983 the Annual fees were set at £5, with a £5 "one off" joining fee for new members - eighty eight members renewed their membership, and the members voted unanimously to rename the Club
Inverclyde Phoenix Car Club. A new constitution was adopted and Trustees were appointed, with a permanent place on Committee, to ensure that the Club's Road Safety objectives were upheld. The four trustees were Mike Etherington (President), Ian Douglas (Vice-President), Malcolm Docherty (Secretary), and Ted Binner (Treasurer).Club members continued to participate in competitions and, in 1984, had their best ever entry for the Police Road Safety Contest, entering seven teams of four members each, taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes along with the Top Team Award....
The Club's contribution to the promotion of Road Safety was recognised in 1989 when, following a nomination by Strathclyde Police, the Phoenix received a Scottish Accident Prevention Committee merit award. Five years later, in 1994, the Club was again nominated and was awarded second place - finishing ahead of over forty voluntary organisations throughout Scotland. The Club's efforts were further rewarded in 2004 when Mike received a commendation from the Scottish Accident Prevention Committee to mark over thirty years of Road Safety work. This came following a nomination from the Committee's Senior Past Chairman, Jimmy Boyd.
Following the death of former Road Safety Convener Algy McQuarrie, it was decided to mark his contribution to the Club's Road Safety efforts and, In 1992, Life Member
Nan Skinner presented a cup to the Club for that purpose. The cup, which became the Algy McQuarrie Memorial Trophy, is awarded annually to the school with the best team score in the Cycle-In, and the first winner of the trophy was Ravenscraig School.With the phasing out of the old 10p coins, a new meter was required for the workshop. As usual, the Phoenix was running on a tight budget and could not afford to buy one but, in 1996, Radio Clyde put out an appeal for a 50 pence coin meter on the Club's behalf - one was found, and Gary travelled to Wishaw to collect it.
At the 1997 A.G.M., Malcolm Docherty stepped down as Secretary and moved to the office of Vice-President - to date Malcolm is the Club's longest serving Secretary, having occupied that office for over 16 years. The post was immediately filled by accountant Campbell Sinclair, who had joined the Club two years earlier.
Ill health forced Ted Binner to retire as Treasurer in 1998, and he was presented with a clock in appreciation of his outstanding service to the Club. In spite of failing health, he continued to maintain a keen interest as Trustee and participated in all of the Club's Road Safety events until his death in 2005. Competition member Heather Sinclair was Ted's successor and, with her specialist knowledge as a bank officer, has been a tremendous asset to the Club. Heather was responsible for introducing payment of fees by standing order and a large proportion of our members took up the option, making the collection of fees a much easier operation.
Gala The Phoenix Road Safety Drive-In was still popular but, because of difficulties in obtaining insurance and a suitable venue, the event was not held for two years
Rates assessment
Nov '97 Lottery Grant (Trailer)
In May of 2001 the Phoenix, with the assistance of Strathclyde Police and Inverclyde Council, ran a Road Safety Gala for Private Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles. The event, which attracted over sixty entrants, was held on the Greenock Esplanade. As a result , the Club was able to donate £743 to the local Macmillan Nurses Esplanade Road at a civic reception held by Provost David Roach later that year.
Charity Road
Safety Gala Day, in aid of the local Macmillan Nurses, on Greenock Esplanade, on Sunday 27th May.
The event, which will run from 10am until 4.30pm, will be opened by Provost David Roach, and will be open to both .
There will also be a CAR BOOT SALE at the same location – PITCHES ARE AVAILABLE AT £5 – TO BOOK CONTACT BRIAN ON 01475 892603.
22 July 2002 Charitable Status
2003 30th Cycle-In was a special Gala event with Provost
Ciano Rebecchi and ex- Provost Jimmy Boyd present. Many special prizes were on offer and the top schools on this occasion were:- Boys' Shield and McQuarrie Cup - Gourock Primary; Girls' Shield - Wemyss Bay.
In 2005 Campbell Sinclair was appointed to the vacant position of Trustee of the Club
To be continued....
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