BRADFORD Amateur Rowing Club, an institution which was established in1867 and is hidden away along the river by Hirst Weir.

Known for its peace, tranquillity and beauty, the club's members are treated to one of Bradford's finest rowing locations.

Not only that, but the club also has a fantastic and rich history dating way back to 1867.

BARC (Bradford Amateur Rowing Club) Survived two world wars, fires, floods and Covid and is still going strong as one of the pre-eminent community rowing clubs in Britain, with one of the prettiest club houses and rivers.

Members range from 12-87 years old, and with membership open to all ages, Celia Hickson (BARC president) is encouraging more people from the local community to come down and begin their rowing adventure.

She said: "We have a rich history here at Bradford Amateur Rowing Club which dates way back, while we've also had to deal with a number of obstacles.

"World War One affected us greatly because a lot of our members sadly died on the battlefields in France, meaning numbers were significantly down.

"We did build the club back up, but the 60's also were also harsh for us because our boathouse burnt down and a lot of our members died from the incident.

"It looked at that point as if the club wouldn't open again, but we did and here we are today.

"I'm the first female president at the club for over 150 years, and it's something I'm extremely proud of and luckily I've been in this position now since 2001.

"Obviously, it's a very male orientated sport, but I think people from the community respect my role within the club and are extremely excepting of my role.

Hickson added: "It's a great sport and we welcome people of all ages to our club.

"We've tried to embrace the diversity of the community around us, and that's the message we try to push out as a club.

"It's an amazing activity to be involved in and it has so many physical and mental benefits. The physical benefits speak themselves, it’s a brilliant physical workout, both for cardio and muscular endurance.

“And the mental benefits are priceless. When rowing, you cannot think about anything else- it’s a great mindfulness exercise on the water.

“On our stretch of the river, you are in a beautiful environment where you can’t see any roads or any big industrial developments. You are in trees, on water, it’s quiet, it’s peaceful and you’re amongst nature. It’s spectacular really and I would encourage anyone to come down and give it a go.”

The club have also recently relaunched an old wooden boat with an interesting history.

HA Jeffrey was a BARC member who survived service in the First World War. Half the club members did not.

HAJ restarted the club in the 20's and saved it. When his widow died in the 1970's, she bequeathed £1000 for a top quality wooden racing scull.

HA Jeffrey, the boat served the club for many years, being wrecked and repaired several times. In 2020, members got out the dusty pile of broken wood and once again restored it to its former glory and regular use in the River Aire. The indomitable spirit of Major Herbert Athelston Jeffrey is still alive.

To find out more information about rowing courses and memberships at BARC, go to: https://www.bradfordrowing.co.uk/