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Authority record
University of Westminster Archive
Boat Society
Corporate body · fl. Oct 1976

The first mention of the boat society was through a list of all the different society’s available for students to join in the McGarel in October 1976, for the academic year of 1976/77. Training was usually at Chiswick boat house on Wednesday afternoons.

Pete Mearney who was a member of the society in 1977, had been selected at the time to represent the national team in Egypt and was aspiring to be selected for the upcoming Olympic Games in New Zealand.

The boat society in January 1979, competed for the first time in many years under college colours in the four’s heads. The society started out in 187th place, and finished in 183rd position out of 260 crews racing. During this time, the club boats that were available to use from the Chiswick boat house on Wednesdays and Saturdays were 1/eight, 1/four and 2/ sculling boats.
Gymnastic Society
Corporate body · fl. Nov 1974
The Gymnastic Society was first mentioned in the McGarel in November 1974 through an advertisement for students to join the society, for practice on Wednesdays 1pm-3pm.
Judo Society
Corporate body · fl. Jan 1975
The Judo society was first mentioned through an advertisement for students in the McGarel in January 1975. The society was fully licensed by The British Judo Association and had a well-qualified instructor. Members of the society were graded according to the BJA rules, and wore coloured belts correlating to the grades they were awarded with. Training usually took place on Tuesdays 4.30pm-8pm, Wednesdays 11am-1pm and Saturdays at 11am-1pm at 309 Regents Street. During the academic year of 1975/76, training took place in the Games Room at Regents Street on Wednesday 1pm-3pm. In December 1975, the society started competing in competitions against other institutions and polytechnics against the likes of University College London’s bluebelt and white belt members. Within several months of the society existing, many members quickly began developing skills and were already being awarded with grades.
Kendo Society
Corporate body · fl. Oct 1975
The Kendo Society was first mentioned in a sports timetable notice in the McGarel in October 1975. The society had training in the Games Room in Regents Street on Tuesdays at 4.30pm-6pm. Due to a lack of student participation, the society folded at the end of the academic year of 1975/76.
Korfball
Corporate body · fl. Jan 1976

Korfball had already been established in the UK, on July 31st 1946 by the British Korfball Association, which became affiliated with the International Korfball Federation on September 21st 1946. Korfball was an imported game from Holland, however the game was not widely known from the 1940’s to the 1980’s. Nonetheless, the Korfball Society was first mentioned through an advertisement in the McGarel in January 1976, which informed students how the society already had a team in the London League. Korfball training took place on Thursdays at 5pm-6pm at Little Titchfield Street. In April 1976, the society announced that they intended for all games to be played outdoors, in Hyde Park.

At the start of the academic year of 1976/77, the society was already at the top of the Korfball league, ultimately achieving 54 goals scored in October 1976. In January 1978, the society was at the top of the third round of the Korfball League. Korfball leagues usually started in January. In January 1979, the society got off to a bad start in the indoor korfball league season, with the team losing both matches. This led the team to eventually be relegated to the second division of the league in February 1979.

In April 1979, the team finished in 2nd position in the third round of the korfball league, this meant that they could have been promoted to the first division for the fourth and final round. However, the team was unable to do this due to members having to sit exams.

After losing in the first round of the afternoon league cup, the society won the second division and were promoted. At the end of the academic year of 1980/81, eight women and eight men from the society went to the home of Korfball, Holland and played several matches in Amsterdam. Their hosts were a local korfball club Vlug en Vaardig during their stay.

In March 1981, the society entered the third and fourth round of the korfball league and were in second position of the second division. In the week of 3rd July-6th July, the society were hosts to a Dutch Korfball Club called Vlug en Vaardig. The poly’s arranged a small tournament for them during their stay.
Parachuting Society
Corporate body · fl. Nov 1975

The Parachuting Society was first mentioned through an advertisement in the McGarel in November 1975, which was encouraging new members to join the society and attend sessions at the weekends. New members were advised to complete a course which usually consisted of paying a £20 fee, training, the hire of a plane, parachutes, the first jump, provisional membership of the British Parachute Association and return transport to the airfield.

In December 1978, society members travelled to Sibson Airfield near Peterborough to complete parachute training which consisted of lectures on stability in the air, canopy control. Emergencies and parachute landing falls.

Towards the academic year of 1978/79, it was reported in the May edition of the McGarel that eighty people had trained with the society and over thirty had the opportunity to jump.
Small, Doreen
Person
Doreen Rothesay Small joined a Shorthand evening class at the Polytechnic in 1933 and initially only became a member so that she could use the Women's Institute lounge at Little Titchfield Street before her class started. She initially joined the Rambling Club and within 3 years was its Social Secretary and Council Representative. She also served on the committees for the Summer Fete, New Year's Fete and Christmas Dinner Fund. In 1937 she became a founder member of the Women's section of the Poly Parliament, as well a member of the Committee. The second world war gave her further opportunities for service in connection with the Comfort's Fund, in assisting the Harriers at the Marathon and Kinnaird Meeting and by becoming Secretary of the Ladies O.M.A. (a position she held for five years). She also married Harold Small in 1940. In 1947 she became Secretary for the Women's Council and in 1953 she was made a Companion of the Women's Institute. In later years she was Secretary of the Polytechnic Christian Fellowship.