RCYC Clubhouse stars in Anglia TV series
RCYC Clubhouse stars in Anglia TV series 26 Mar 2006
On the strength of Paul Gogarty's book, "The Coast Road", Imago Productions of Norwich was commissioned by ITV Anglia to produce a series of programmes, exploring the East Anglian coast from Burnham to King's Lynn. The series, "Coastal Inspirations", would concentrate on local artists as well as give a historical glance at each venue.
An October day in 2005 was scheduled for the shooting and Tim Matthews and I were to take part. Tim gave the architect's perspective of the daring 1930's decision to commission Joseph Emberton as the designer. Standing on the pontoon, (fortunately a calm day,) with both the Old Clubhouse and Emberton's Clubhouse as a backdrop, Tim recalled the impact made by this controversial design which stepped over the seawall to exploit the river views from all angles.
I then took Paul on a tour of the building, stressing that Emberton's plans acknowledged the Ladies who had recently been awarded membership in their own right, guaranteeing them access to the Club's facilities rather than leaving them to freeze on the balcony. Our tour ended in the Trophy Room with the silverware and river scenes reflecting each other.
We filmed on a Tuesday, the river and Clubhouse placid and empty, hardly the exciting, vibrant impression we would like to see. But I need not have feared; Imago Productions also filmed the Endeavour Championships a few days later so the serene river in the programme was interspersed with Topper Xenons zipping up and down and a bustling pontoon full of trolleys. That's more like it!
Henry Potten from the Burnham Museum produced photos of oyster dredgers, over-canvassed yachts and flooded waterfronts and Sue Spiers undertook a pastel scene of the river and waterfront during Paul's visit. The focus of Tracy Saunders' work provided an excuse to visit a boatyard and watch the shipwrights whilst wood featured again in the abstract forms of the wood sculptor, Mike Barton.
It's always intriguing to see familiar scenes on the small screen, especially when the commentary is so appreciative. "The pretty high street is a medley of handsome Georgian homes, white weatherboard fishermen's cottages and an eccentric clocktower the pavement has to duck beneath."