Falkirk Boathouse 1992

There was a problem ofvandalism to the “Govan Seagull”. We had to keep devising ways of mooring the boat and cope with window shutters to try and prevent this. Eventually we got the go-ahead for a boathouse and reception centre to be built at Walker’s Bridge, South Bantaskine. This eventually got underway and was completed in 1992 which made a tremendous difference to the safety of the “Govan Seagull” and the access to the boat for our passengers. The Reception Centre/Boathouse consists of a large entrance hall with a lift down to the boat level, two disabled toilets, a reception room with two walls of window overlooking the boat and the Forth Valley and a kitchen. There is good cupboard accommodation on the boat level and elsewhere so ‘all-in-all’ the building designed by Alpin Ross-Smith is a great asset as well as an attractive building.

In 1990 it was still all go on the Seagull Trust – sufficient funds had been received to allow the Trustees to give the go ahead for the commencement of the building of the Boathouse and Reception Centre at Bantaskine Falkirk and the Reception Centre and the Dry Dock at Ratho. At Falkirk on 12^th May the Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk Colonel James Stirling CBE TD of Garden cut the first sod at a special ceremony on the proposed site. 70 people attended representing local organisations.