The story of Cobdown Sauna Club begins in 1947, when C.D. Sheldon, chairman of the Albert E. Reed Co. paper mill met Juuso Walden, the then director of the Finnish paper company Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat. They agreed on annual competitions between their two companies in track running (middle distance), cross-country running and football. The first meeting took place in Aylesford in 1947, and then the next one in Finland (Myllykoski and Valkeakoski) in 1948. The two companies then took turns in hosting the matches until 1962.

As the Olympic Games were happening in London in 1948, Albert E. Reed and Co. paper mill (because of their affiliation with Finland) contacted the Finnish Olympic Team to extend their welcome and invite them to come visit Aylesford. This visit took place on the 8th August and it was probably during this visit that it was agreed that after the Olympics the Finnish Sauna that had been shipped over for the games, would be transferred to Aylesford and gifted to Albert E. Reed & Co. LTD. Paper Manufacturers.

Since then members of the Cobdown Sauna Club have used the sauna up until 2020 when the Pandemic struck. Last year they obtained Grade II heritage england listing for the sauna, which is the oldest functioning sauna in the UK, and the oldest Olympic sauna anywhere in the world. Due to its age, they now need to do some electrical repairs/upgrades to make it fire safe, and a new sauna heater is needed.

Thank you for reading this, we really appreciate any support you can provide.

For more information please cantact Richard Young the Cobdown Sauna Club Secretary at richwyoung@aol.com