Corporate body
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(1975-[1983])
The Yoga Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society would usually have training in the Institute’s Room on Wednesdays from 1.30pm-3.30pm. In March 1983, the society often had part-time lecturers like Francis Humphries, who was a student of Sanskrit, participate in society meetings by reading papers that dealt with the relations between health, ethics, mysticism and psychology and would usually be followed by discussions after this.
Corporate body
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1974-[1983]
The Wu Shu Kwan Society had begun meetings and training in January 1974 at the Regent Street campus’s judo room. In February 1976, the society trained on Tuesday nights at 7.30pm-9.30pm at the Polytechnic of Central London School of Communication, Riding House Street. In February 1976, the society had its first grading at the Little Titchfield Gym, where Mr C.K. Chang the chief instructor of Wu-Shu-Kwan was there to judge the performances. On Sunday 21st February 1982, the society saw an increase in female participants getting involved in the society, as 13 women successfully completed their grading. On Sunday 28th February, there was gradings for high brown and black belts, with two contests taking place for the high brown and one for the black belt, with all three people passing. During this time, the society won titles in Full Contact Fighting and the Professional Karate Association Championships. From September 1983, the society had two classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Regent Street, 3.30pm-6pm and 12pm-2.30pm. Gradings took place every 3 months at the Polytechnic with an examiner to grade students.
Corporate body
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1975-[1982])
The Volleyball Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society would have training in the Regent Street Gym on Wednesday’s 3pm-4pm. Both in 1975 and 1976, the Polytechnic Volleyball Society won the Seetech Cup final, and the London area league play offs in 1976.
In October 1980, the society was using the volleyball courts at Michael Sobell Sports Centre. In March 1981, the society was unfortunately eliminated from the B.P.S.A Cup quarter finals, after losing to Bristol. In the academic year of 1981/82, the society played in three different leagues such as the London League, Seetech League and K/O Cup League. In the London League, the society was at the top of the table after beating University College, whilst they were through to the semi-finals in the K/O Cup League. During the 1980s, volleyball became one of the three most supported games in the world and was still establishing itself in the UK. The society had both a men’s and women’s team which played in the mid-week London League, Seetech League and B.P.S.A, which the men’s team reached the quarter finals in 1982 in Bath.
Corporate body
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1974-[1976]
First mention of the Tennis Society was through an advertisement in the McGarel in November 1974, encouraging students to participate in the British Polytechnic Tennis Champions competition. Members of the society were able to use the tennis facilities at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground in Chiswick on Wednesday afternoons. In April 1979, Bruce Young, who frequently wrote the badminton reports in the McGarel during the time, competed in the BPSA Individual Tennis Tournament. At the Southern Area Tournament, he qualified for the National finals, and finished as a runner-up.
Corporate body
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1975-[1979]
The Table Tennis Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society was able to train at any time, everyday in the Games Room in Regent Street. A table tennis championship took place at the Regent Street building on 23rd February 1977.
In January 1979, training took place every Wednesday in the Regent Street Judo room from 3pm. Members were able to get a qualified coach and enter a team in the London League at this time.
Corporate body
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1975-[1981])
The Swimming Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society usually had training throughout Monday- Thursday at 11.30am-2pm and 2.30pm-7pm. On Fridays they trained at 11.30am-2pm and 2.30pm-6pm, and on Saturday at 10am-4pm at Regent Street. In the McGarel in February 1981, there was a notice encouraging disabled students to participate in the B.P.S.A swimming competition.
Corporate body
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1975-[1977]
The Sub Aqua Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society would carry out training on Wednesdays at 2-4pm. In January 1977, the society was keen on recruiting new students and was particularly encouraging female students to get involved in the society, as there wasn’t enough female participants to utilise £6000 worth of equipment, expert training and tuition available at the time.
In March 1977, members of the society made a trip to a beach in Swanage to complete their BSAC ‘D’ test, this is an open water section of a training programme which allowed members to be categorised under the internationally acknowledged title of ‘Diver Third Class’.
Corporate body
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1976-[1983]
The first mention of the Snooker Society was through a report on the staff versus students match in May 1976. At the current time, society members Paris Natar and Amon Ramzi competed in the Student Snooker Championships, in which they both reached the final of the championships. Ultimately, Natar won the final and was awarded a trophy at the Polytechnic Billiards and Snooker Club Annual Dinner. Over 60 people had entered a snooker competition at Regent Street on Thursday 2nd April 1981 at 4.30pm. On Thursday 6th October 1983, the society took part in the annual HTD Computer Technology Pool Challenge in which the second years beat the first years in this challenge.
Corporate body
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1971-[1978]
The Sailing Society is first mentioned through advertisement in the McGarel in October 1971, for students to attend a meeting to inaugurate the activities for the society in the academic year of 1971/1972. In January 1974, the sailing society were able to use facilities such as racing dinghies at the Welsh Harp sailing club. In March 1976, the Polysail Society had attained two Firefly’s which they sailed regularly down the Welsh Harp. During this time, the society was competed in the National Polytechnics Sailing Association Championship in Portsmouth, in which they came in fourth, fifth and sixth position in their first set of races; and ultimately altogether came in 3rd position.
In January 1978, the society competed in team races against Bristol University and Middlesex Polytechnic. In February, the Polytechnic were competing in the Castaways Cup at the Welsh Harp and later in March, they were competing in the NPSA championships at Trent Polytechnic.
In October 1978, one member of the society, Charles Apthorp was selected to be one of the three Tempest class helmsmen at the World Championships at Lake Garda, Italy in September 1978. Apthorp was placed 7th place and a 4th and 5th placing in the individual races at the championships. Other members such as Tom Aldridge attended the Prince of Wales Cup in Falmouth at the time. The society in the academic year of 1978/79 were entered into many competitions such as the NPSA League and The Team Racing Championships. The society was also able to provide beginners to sailing and advanced sailers the chance to gain certificates and training from the Royal Yachting Association’s regional coach, by being assessed for two of the national proficiency certificates: elementary and intermediate levels. and was the top British Boat at the World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy in September 1978. At the time he became current champion being 25th. Competed in the Individual Polytechnic Championships in November 1978.
On Friday 17th November 1978, the society competed in the Individual Polytechnic Championships which was hosted by Plymouth Polytechnic and the Mayflower Sailing Club. At this event, both of the Polytechnic’s boats ‘The Firefly’ and the ‘14th’ came in 20th position at the Championships.
Along with competing in different leagues and championships, the society also attended events such as the London Dinghy Exhibition at Pickett’s Lock.
Corporate body
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1983-present