Chatof your
Each month we feature a selection letters
We ’ re still looking for a new prize for a Star Letter , so please bear with us for a while longer . It ’ s a difficult time for the diving industry , so sponsorships are a tricky proposition at the moment .
Holborn ’ s star quality
Mike Maloney pushes off from shore in Cornwall , 1965 / 66
More than 100 current and former members joined Zoom to celebrate sixty years of the central London club , Holborn 130 .
Training at Laughing Waters , Kent 1961 / 62
20
President Mike Maloney and Chair Richard Elliott prepare to meet the Prince of Wales , 2014
ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC prevented a face-to-face event , there were advantages to the online format – people were able to join from all over the world , including former members in New Zealand and Australia . In spite of their 5am start , they were happy to join in the celebrations . President of Holborn 130 , Mike Maloney , had been with the club almost from the start and still remains an active member . Mike said : “ The Zoom celebration didn ’ t feel like a compromise , as it was great to see so many friends from former and current members .”
Holborn was founded in April 1961 , at a time when BSAC were expanding the sport across the country . They have been based at Oasis Leisure Centre , since the start and continue to meet there every Wednesday . Being based in Theatreland , it attracted quite a few actors and people from the industry . Best known were Kenneth Moore , who was also a club Chair , and Diana Cilento . Members were also stunt doubles for the underwater scenes in the early James Bond films .
Today , Holborn has a broad membership base from around London and being in the capital it is also a highly international one . At a time when clubs may be struggling ,