WALTHAMSTOW: 'Way of life' to end with boys' club closure

3:28pm Tuesday 16th September 2008

By Jonathan Moyes

A WAY of life is coming to end with the sale of a building used by a long-established boys’ club.

Over the years, thousands of Waltham Forest families have used the Cameron Athan club in Grove Road, Walthamstow, founded in 1931, to play football, basketball, take trips and relax.

Lorna Dodd, a committee member, said the trustees can no longer afford to keep it running and the building is being sold for £1.6 million to become a school for Muslim girls.

She added: "Generations after generations of families have come here. I was taken here when I was a baby and now I help out.”

Club member Herb Johnson said: "It's a piece of history. It's an absolute disgrace it is closing when it provides activities for our young people at a time when the council and the Government are saying there is nothing for young people to do."

Cameron Athan chairwoman Gay Sparks, 43, said: "It's really sad. Twenty youth football and basketball clubs who used the indoor and outdoor pitches.

"The Scouts met here and there were also several church groups who used the building as well. They are all going to have find new places to go."

Former England striker Teddy Sheringham played football for one of the boys’ club teams. David Beckham also played there when his team, Ridgeway Rovers, took on a Cameron Athan team.

Long-standing member Tony Prestedge said: "I first came when I was eight to box and have been coming to this club for 35 years. I will be very sad to see it close. It will be missed by the whole community."

Sam Carroll, 14, said: "I'm concerned I won't have anything to do when it closes."

Five jobs will be lost and numerous clubs will either fold or have to find new premises.

These include the Woodcraft Youth Club, a Scout troop, a pensioners’ group and the Victory Church Group.

Nick Barnes, 44, Woodcraft co-ordinator, said: "We have been using the hall for the last two years but because of the uncertainty, we're going to move.”

Raja Mohammad Khan, Waltham Forest Islamic Association president, said the mosque in Lea Bridge Road is in negotiations with the club's trustees to buy the building.

He said: "Our current premises is not big enough so the centre would be ideal. At the moment our girls school is part-time but if we move into the hall it could become full-time."

Tell us about your memories of the Cameron Athan club by contacting the newsdesk on 8498 3478, emailing jmoyes@london.newsquest.co.uk or leaving a message below.