Work progressed since Summer 2020, with the all the walls being installed and the roof completed. Our front door was installed, with our portholes! All windows are now in place and in January 2021 the roller shutters were installed for the safety boat store and workshop to allow easy access for boats and trailers.
Real roller shutters opening onto car park
The front elevation of the HQ
Our front door - with port holes!
A sneak preview inside the main hall
Roller shutters at the rear for boat/trailer access
The fire was so intense that it had warped the steel structure and damaged the roof and walls, with the flames also causing damage to the leisure centre next door (which has now been fully repaired). The roof, wall and about a quarter of the steel structure needed to be replaced but the entire steel frame had to be taken off site to be cleaned and repainted. Over The Summer the replacement structure has been erected on site, with the roof panels being craned into place. By the end of September we will have restored the building to the state it was in before the fire.
Damaged frame being removed from site
Site cleared and Leisure Centre repaired
New/repainted frame erected on site
New roof being lifted into place
The 2nd phase of our new HQ project is to build a new HQ in St Nicholas Park, Warwick, next to the Leisure Centre.
The new HQ facility will have one large main hall, a training room, boat maintenance room, equipment storage, toilets, changing rooms, kitchen and access to suit anybody with physical disabilities.
A new HQ will build our future by:
Providing a larger meeting place for and allow us to open new Beaver and Cub packs
Increasing the number of youngsters who can join in, whilst providing the best possible scouting experience
Providing a new community resource in a central, strategic location in Warwick
Guaranteeing the future of the only local Sea Scout Group in Warwick and one of the best in the country
Providing for disadvantaged youngsters and those with disabilities
For more details on the project or to discuss supporting the construction of the new HQ through donating items or services please contact seascouts@2wk.org.uk
We had started building our HQ next to St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre in Warwick in November 2019, with the ground having been cleared, the foundations put in place and the steel structure erected. The roof and one wall had just been completed when they were the victim of an arson attack on site on 29th February 2020.
Since the fire, work on site was put on hold while the police investigation was concluded and our insurance claim was processed; which unfortunately took longer than usual due to Covid-19, but was settled in full. Getting the building work back underway was also delayed due to Coronavirus restrictions but work finally began to clear the site in July.
‘It was shocking to get the call on Saturday night that our new scout hut was on fire. When I arrived, it was dark and smoke was everywhere. It wasn’t until daylight that I could see the extent of the damage, which was devastating to see. Since then we have been overwhelmed by all the support; kind words and positive messages we have received. We’d like to thank everyone again who has helped us with our new HQ project to help us get to this point. We are still really excited about what an amazing facility it will be, not only for our youngsters but as a new community resource for Warwick.'
Viv Bosworth, Chair, 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts