1969 Lents
Tom Moffat got in touch and said: “Greetings…to all Billygoats!
It was lovely to read about the 50th anniversary of Billy going Head of the Lents and Mays. I remember the celebrations…and although not a rower myself I was very happy to share in the joy of the occasion.
I was looking through some of my old college memorabilia recently and found the actual CUBC Lent Races 1969 programme. In it I have written “Fitzwilliam – Ist time – Head of the River – history made”. I think I must have seen the historic event from the towpath.”
Here are some extracts from the programme:
1969 Mays
The 1st VIII was not the only successful crew in the 1969 Mays, other crews demonstrated the strength in depth of Billy rowing. For example, Michael Fowler remembers:
I coxed the 4th May Boat in 1969, the magic year. I have attached a photo of my rudder, with all the names on, a posed crew photo and a photo of us bumping, I think, Queen’s V near Grassy corner.
The 1969 May Bumps Supper was of course an amazing night, Head of River etc, number of crews with oars and rudders, including us in the 4th boat. I remember ending up behind what was then the College greenhouse in a very mellow state with a number of friends and it being suggested by the then Head Porter, Mr Balls, that I should think about getting home! I was by this time a PhD research student and lived outside College. Looking at my rudder, which is still on the book case in my study, I wonder what happened to all my pals in the 1969 4th May Boat, and I have put the June 2019 date in my diary and intend to be there if possible. It would be wonderful if we could get the boat back together.
I also have the bit of the bow of my “8” with the name “W T Reddaway” on it, also on my study wall. The story behind that is, that the chap who coxed Reddaway the year after me ran the boat into the bank and badly damaged the bow. George, who was then our boatman at Fitz, knowing how fond I had been of Reddaway (a lovely old clinker “8”, which I doubt you see the likes of these days), had kept the name plate bit of the bow for me which he then gave to me when I next dropped into the boathouse to see him, some time after I had gone down from Fitz.
I have wonderful memories of early morning outings and floating down the river in mists, with just the sound of the oars and seeing ducks and swans swimming to get out of our way – absolute bliss. Coming around Grassy Bend and there was the Plough, memories of sitting in the garden there, with a pint and watching boats go by. One particular hazard for Fitz coxes was, in those days, if I recall, an old wooden, road bridge just below the boathouse going down river. Quite often there were pleasure boats etc moored on each side of the river, making the channel quite narrow, such that on occasion you had to get a bit of way on just before the bridge, then ship oars and coast through. What made it more difficult for the cox was that it was on a slight right hand bend going down river. Led to the occasional interesting moment! They were wonderful times in a wonderful College which you can’t put a price on.
Castle Blades
Billygoats’ President George Proffitt and Secretary Dan George visited the Castle pub before the recent committee meeting to toast the 1969 Lent and May blades displayed there.
Does anyone know who donated them to the pub?
1970
Ian Mason shared the following press cuttings. If they are difficult to read you may need to use your browser’s zoom facility. The first two relate to the 1970 May Bumps, describing how the 1st boat rowed over at Head, and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th boats all got their oars (the eagle-eyed may notice that the 3rd VIII got 4 bumps and a row over, for which result some dispute whether an oar is awarded).
Further demonstrating stength in depth, Dave MacLean shared these photos of the May 1970 2nd VIII, who won their oars:
Dave said:
I was asked to add comment to the photos of the 1970 2nd May Boat, mainly sent to the Society to fill a bit of the hole in Charles Lowe’s diary, regarding memories of that era. Further rummaging produced the below artifacts of the era. I hope it prompts memories to those involved as we celebrate the success of Fitzwilliam gaining, and maintaining, Head of the River in 1969.
I arrived at Fitzwilliam, Sept 1968 a fresh-faced youth from a state school with little or no sporting prowess. The mood of the College was inclusion in every form of event. Whilst I still had my eye on the main prize of my degree; in my second year (’69 – ’70) I chose to try rowing as an activity (a sport alien to my background).
Starting in the Novices in ’69 (I believe alongside Jim Hart), things for me were surprisingly successful through the whole year in many ways which was celebrated at the Fairbairn Dinner.
Nevertheless, I recall the Blue boat and Goldie had made high demands on Fitzwilliam oarsmen in the spring of 1970. As a result the Lent Boats were plagued by a maelstrom of problems for the Lent Races of which Charles made mention, and in which I think I was moved, as others, from boat to boat on one or more days – musical boats – no wonder we were unsuccessful.
However, the year (May 1970) culminated in success for the 2nd May Boat of 1970 (see above photo of J. Belton, R Matthews, J Alington, J Hart, D MACLEAN, M Moseley, I T Smith, A Adams and R Humphrey). The Boat Club overall was hugely successful – I recall a number of boats, including ours, winning their oars alongside the 1st Boat maintaining Head of The River. (see below May 1970 Bumps Programme) So far as I recall the Bumps supper that year was a hugely celebratory affair, and probably echoed the phrase – if you remember the ‘60s, you possibly weren’t there. Fortunately, I do remember it – just. I hope to attend the forthcoming re-union and catch up with past fellow crew.
David M MacLean (1968)
John Belton was interested to see the above post and said “I particularly liked the formal group photo where I have got lots of hair (which has now, sadly, receded into baldness)!” He shared this photo of the 1970 2nd May Boat Oar.
Nile Boat Race
In December 1970 there was a boat race on the Nile, as part of the first Nile festival, including Fitzwilliam Blues Neville Robertson, Bob Winckless and Charles Lowe, and coxed by Ian Mason.
1971
In 1971 Fitz again rowed over at Head.
