Club Faces Eviction Cause A King Died

[NorthernLights24]

A football club may have to vacate its home ground in Norfolk because of a clause in the lease linking ownership to a king of Norway who died in 1991.

 

Cromer Town FC were given the lease in 1922 by Evelyn Bond-Cabbell.

 

But the gift of Cabbell Park included a clause that the lease would expire 21 years after the death of Queen Victoria's last surviving grandchild.

 

Norway's King Olav V, the monarch's great grandson, died on 17 January 1991 meaning the club face eviction in 2012.

 

Paul Jarvis, chairman of the amateur club, who play in the Anglian Combination League, said: "We've had discussions with the trustees of the will.

 

"It appears that the lease expires in 2012. That could lead to us being relocated.

 

"It's at a very early stage in terms of discussions with the trustees and no final decision has been made.

 

"We've not been given notice to quit. We've expressed that we would prefer to stay where we are."

 

Mr Jarvis said the trustees were considering possible alternative uses for the football ground.

 

The gift was originally intended so that all the people in Cromer could enjoy an amenity and the trustees want to bring this wish up to date by including more sports and activities on the ground for a wider age group including young people.

 

Evelyn Bond-Cabbell gave a lot of money to the local community after World War I when she was concerned about the plight of men returning to Norfolk after serving their country.

 

She funded the building of Cromer Hospital where many of the returning soldiers gained work.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...olk/8039415.stm

 

What a strange story. Just seems so weird that the length of a lease would be based on something like the death of Queen Victorias last grandchild.