In May 2018 the Boat Club was notified that a pair of FCBC Headship blades were to be auctioned in Scotland. Both the College and the Billygoats considered the purchase of these but as we already have copies at College we decided not to. Intrigued by the question of how they came to be up for auction I contacted the crew, in particular Charles Lowe, with whom I had been discussing next year’s 50th anniversary of the 1969 Headship. Charles realised that they must belong to Ken Fraser, sadly deceased, and contacted his widow Susie, who later sent a heart-warming email:
Hello Dan, Charles Lowe passed on to me your email about the 1970 and 1971 oars which were auctioned in Scotland in early May. They were, indeed, the oars which belonged to my late husband, Ken Fraser, who was a member of both crews. We had had them originally but they must eventually been left behind in Ken’s mother’s house, in Carnoustie, Angus, when she died. Ken had already predeceased her.
After a roundabout series of events, I was able to buy both oars and have them delivered, one to each of my daughters, who are absolutely delighted to have such splendid mementoes of their father. And I am really pleased to see them again, after all this time. I knew all the members of both crews very well, so they bring back lots of great memories of riverbanks on the Cam – as well as at regattas all over the place. Thank you very much for alerting Charles to the auction. Without that, the oars would have disappeared forever from our family!
It is wonderful that Susie was able to secure the oars for her daughters, so they can be enjoyed by those who appreciate what they represent, as a memento of their father. She was happy for me to share this story with the Billygoats, some of whom will remember Ken Fraser, and all of whom greatly appreciate the achievements of the Head crews of 1969-71.
Many members of these Head crews will be returning to College for a 50th anniversary celebration at the May Bumps Dinner in June 2019, and of course, other Billygoats are invited to join them.
Dan George