Bournville Model Yachting Club was founded in the early     nineteen hundreds at Rowheath Park.  By 1926 George Cadbury had commissioned an area of marshland on the now famous     Bournville Village Trust to be reclaimed, and a concrete pool of even depth was constructed.  The work was carried out by men who were without work but who were not eligible for unemployment benefit.  The pool was dug out by hand, and tracks were laid to transport the soil to an area some hundreds of yards away.  When this area was full, the tracks were moved to another area and the process repeated. This area is believed to be the raised area at the back of the pool, which is presently used as a football pitch.  When completed the area was known as Valley Park, and boasted a boathouse and miniature railway with station, which must have provided much entertainment and pleasure to both the local community and visitors.
Over the years a stronger following in power boats became   apparent, and the club took the decision to open a power boat section. Renamed Bournville Model Yacht and Power Boat Club, to this day it is renowned as one of the oldest clubs in the country. Membership at the moment totals 80, with 65 yachting and 15 power members.

If anybody has or knows of any photos of the early times please contact Richard Cole.