Sue Sljivic moved to the Frodsham area a bit by accident. She had joined a new start up company (RSK) which was involved in a project with Shell that was routing and consenting an ethylene pipeline from Grangemouth to Stanlow. It seemed sensible to have an office near the client, so she moved to Frodsham in 1989. Initially working from home in a rented property at the back of Godscroft Hall. As the company and her family grew she bought a house in Frodsham and an office in Helsby. RSK has grown over the last 35 years to be the largest privately owned Environmental and ground engineering company in the UK, it has expanded overseas into Asia, Africa, South America and Australasia employing over 10,000 people. It is the largest employer in Helsby. Sue who qualified as a Landscape Architect at Sheffield University sold her shares in 2018 and retired in 2020 just as COVID lockdown started.
Not being the sort of person to sit around and being unable to travel (which was the original retirement plan). Sue picked up a much needed project to refurbish the property at Runcorn Rowing Club (where she regularly rows and competes). The new boat house project rapidly became a big undertaking. Planning consent was obtained 2 years ago and the detailed design, consent conditions, promotion and fundraising has kept her busy (see pictures) The boathouse will be a major new facility on the River Weaver, including social area, boat house, gym, changing rooms, bar and kitchen. It will be open for community use. Whilst it is called Runcorn Rowing Club, it is on the river right on the border of Halton and Frodsham and most of the river we row on is towards Dutton Locks and Catton Hall a beautiful part of the world. The club is also the home of Runcorn Canoe Club, Runcorn Sea Cadets, Liverpool University Boat Club, with over 400 people accessing the water each week. Anyone can access the water from the club and we have many visitors from other rowing clubs as well as members of the public paddle boarding and canoeing. Funds are needed for the project and Sue is currently applying for grants and money making ventures in an effort to raise over £900,000 for the first phase of construction, which we hope to start next year.
Sue competed in the British Indoor Rowing Championships in 2023 and won golds in both the 2km and 500m races in her age group. She qualified for the World Indoor Rowing Championships which were held in Prague in March, which some of her friends attended, but she was travelling to see family in New Zealand and could not attend. Whilst she says never again, you never know!
This year Sue has just returned from 10 week trip to New Zealand and Australia. She is planning to row from Oslo to Gothenburg (3 days and 3 nights) with a crew of 10. In her spare time she spends time on her Canal Boat, swims in Manley Mere and enjoys felting and sewing.
You may have seen her at WI meetings on the Bowls Green, at Book club or occasionally at the Frodsham WI Community Garden.
