King Lear Model Boat Club (KLMBC) was formed in 2006 when a group of model boaters became dissatisfied with their existing model boat club. So they decided to look around for another lake to sail on.
Some years earlier, a large expanse of land to the north of Leicester had been found to have a seam of gravel which had been subsequently excavated. After extracting the gravel, the pits were allowed to fill up with water from the adjacent river Soar forming an assortment of lakes up twelve feet deep.
In the 1980’s Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council along with Charnwood Borough Council decided to convert the area into a nature reserve and recreation facility, thus creating the Watermead Country Park.Tarmac roads, pathways and car parks were laid to give easy access. Wardens are regularly in the park maintaining the park, its facilities and flora.
In the northern area of the Park, under the control Leicestershire County Council lay several lakes, one of which they had named King Lear’s Lake.
The model boaters approached Leicestershire CC for permission to use this lake for sailing their model boats. Approval was given and the King Lear Model Boat Club was formed.