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September 2, 2021Connor Douglass

NEW STAIRLIFT INSTALLED AT SCARBOROUGH YACHT CLUB

Moving to improve services to help all of our members, the Yacht Club has installed a Stannah Stairlift on the back staircase.

Connecting bar to harbour-side door through the committee room, the project has been long pioneered as a Club priority by Past Commodore Roger Buxton, to help our less mobile members through age, an operation, or injury, visit and enjoy the club’s company and facilities.

Roger says “Scarborough Yacht club is housed within the iconic Lighthouse building in a unique location. The atmosphere within the club is always fantastic, and members have the benefit of spectacular sea views, down the coast to Flamborough on a clear day, and across the South bay. I don’t want anyone to miss out on what we all enjoy, just because, for whatever reason, they cannot manage the stairs”.

Our Yacht Club is central to a large sailing community, and besides helping immediate members a stairlift does much, much more to signal we are a welcoming and inclusive Club. Already, several members have said they will bring a wider family to lunches and socials, where before they had felt unable to ask them.

The Club premises are Heritage listed, and even though the Council was warmly supportive, the rules are tough. The Corona Virus pandemic also complicated the application as many Council staff worked from home, and there were a substantial amount of printed documents to work through.

We would like to thank Andrew Hayes for his forensic case preparation, heritage statements, plans, and other detail (and this is not an understatement), to assist Roger. Thank you Andrew!

Penny Barman, who had a very unfortunate cycling accident that caused a multiple broken leg, was our inaugural user, which showed that any one of us might see the time we might have need of a stairlift. Witnessed by a packed committee room of well-wishers, Penny ascended gracefully from floor to bar, and was escorted to her seat by son Rudi. Penny commented “What a way to make an entrance!!!!”.

People have commented how often the lift, which was a significant Club investment, might be used in future. Rest assured, not only will it be used, but the message it will send out is that Scarborough Yacht Club is a friendly and welcoming place to be!

With best wishes

Chris Clark

Hon Secretary