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Pic 2: The Moorhen MBC portable pool in use by youngsters at a charity day.

The Moorhen Model Boat Club is based at the Moorhen Marina, Burnt Mill Lane, Harlow, Essex. The club was established in 1979 and currently has 25 members. The Moorhen Marina is owned by British Waterways and the club leases an area of water from them. Only club members are allowed to sail their model boats at the Marina, as British Waterways require insurance which is provided by the M.P.B.A., to which the club is affiliated. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month at the Maypole Sports and Social Club, Old London Road, Harlow, Essex. The club holds regattas on designated Sundays and Wednesdays from March to September and trophies are presented for the competitions at the prize giving dinner which is held in November each year.

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Pic 3: A demanding navigation course can be set out in the space available. Pic 4: Beautiful surroundings at the Moorhen MBC sailing facility.

The Moorhen Model Boat Club also attends several shows, and exhibits at them during the course of the year. These include the London Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace in January, Thornwick Modelling Week at Flamborough, Bridlington, East Yorkshire in April, The Charity Model Boat Show at Alford, Surrey in May, Wings and Wheels Spectacular at North Weald Airfield, Essex in June and the Essex Country Show held at Barleylands Centre and Craft Village, Billericay, Essex in September. The club also attends the annual fete in aid of St Claire Hospice, in Hastingwood, Nr. Harlow, Essex in July each year to help to raise much needed funds for the home.

The club also runs social events such as bowling evenings and nights out at Harlow Greyhound Track. Our December meeting is used for a quiz evening when members can bring their partners. The winning team members are presented with a bottle of wine and the losing team members with a wooden spoon - some teams have quite a collection of wooden spoons!

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Pic 6: The end of the main hall at Alexandra Palace provides a great backdrop to the Moorhen MBC stand. Pic 7: The surrounding bank of the marina provides a good viewing platform.

The Moorhen Public House is situated in the marina grounds. It has a large enclosed children’s play area and tea, coffee and cooked food can be purchased as well as alcohol. The River Stort runs alongside and you can sit around tables and watch the world go by, or if you wish, take a walk around the marina watching the boating and look at the narrow boats moored there, or even go for a walk along the designated nature trail.

Our club is very active and friendly, so why not come and visit us at Harlow Marina. Further details can be obtained from our club secretary, Alan Argent on Tel: 01279 812418, or event secretary, Chris Brookes on Tel: 01279 862011 or the social secretary, Keith Henley, on Tel: 01702 528469.