Kristina Pedder catches up with some of the first local clubs or ‘ branches ’ to be formed in the wake of BSAC ’ s founding .
70YEARSON
The first BSAC branches
Kristina Pedder catches up with some of the first local clubs or ‘ branches ’ to be formed in the wake of BSAC ’ s founding .
In 1953 , Oscar Gugen and Peter Small founded the British Sub-Aqua Club ( BSAC ) as a non-profit organisation , controlled by the members for the members , to further the sport of scuba diving . A general committee and a technical committee were formed and by the end of the year the club had 100 members . The founding principles of the club included the golden rule never to dive alone . It ’ s easy to forget , as Reg Vallintine , member number 73 , says in his book The Club ( written to celebrate BSAC ’ s 50th anniversary ) that sport diving in Britain began as a bit of a lark ; something that attracted the adventurous who were willing to cobble together anything that would allow them to swim underwater .
BSAC ’ S founders were convinced that the new club needed a training programme , and devised a system , based on flying training , with tests at every stage . It seems it was Peter ’ s idea to form the first branch in 1954 ; thus beginning the model of the HQ and branch system that remains in place today .
Almost at once , other branches popped up , as a result of Oscar ’ s gospelspreading visits across England . He made promotional tours to anyone who hired a pool and a meeting room and said they had 12 interested people , the minimum needed to form a branch . Another early member , George Brookes , often accompanied him . On arrival , Oscar would run through the aims and objects of the club and , if it was decided to form a branch , would provide the new club with some sets of fins , masks and snorkels . George then gave a demo of his aqua-lung in the pool .
The first 10 clubs to affiliate to BSAC were : London ( number one ); Manchester ( later East Lancashire ); Bristol ( number three ); Blackpool ; Merseyside ; Bournemouth ; Brighton ; Torbay ; Southsea ; and Portsmouth . Five of the first seven clubs still exist today ( East Lancs and Blackpool and Fylde closed in 2017 and 2018 respectively ) and I wanted to find out how they were getting on , 70 years later .
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