Little did we think when we sat down to the Billygoats Dinner with Adrian in December 2023 that this would be the last of the very many Billygoats events he attended. In April I had the sad duty of sharing the news of his passing. It was a shock – I understand Adrian went into hospital in February, was diagnosed with cancer in early March and died on the 25th.
As a regular attendee at College dinners, Osier Holt and Henley he was a well-known and well-liked member of the Billygoats Society. He had the role of Billygoats Rowing Coordinator for many years, organising members to row in the Fairbairn races each year at the end of the Michaelmas term, and other races (mostly Cambridge summer regattas) as and when a crew was available. I, for one, have a couple of masters pots I would not have if it wasn’t for Adrian’s organisational efforts. In December he completed his three year stint on our Committee during which (inter alia) he made a major contribution of time and effort at Osier Holt each June. He will be missed by all who knew him.
2019 Fairbairns crew
2023 Fairbairns crew
Following the news, tributes poured in from dozens of Billygoats who had known him and the Committee decided unanimously to name a boat after him. There was a boat naming ceremony on the morning of Saturday 15th June before the Billygoats Osier Holt bumps party and the new tub 4+ was named the Adrian Tollett, with Adrian’s son Matthew doing the honours.
The new boat was immediately taken out for its inaugural voyage.
The Billygoats Society was represented at Adrian’s funeral by David Curry (committee member and Adrian’s near-contemporary), me and my wife. Andrew Pocock and others from the Surrey branch of the Cambridge Alumni Society and a large contingent from Staines Boat Club attended as well as his family and friends. At the service we learned of his Christian faith, a little about his work (too secret for us to learn a lot!), and his love for the Goons (with “I’m walking backwards for Christmas” as exit music), but a major part of all the tributes from family and friends was his enduring love for rowing – Adrian was a Billygoat until the end.
Refreshments were provided at Staines Boat Club and afterwards we watched as Adrian got his second boat, when SBC named a 1x Adrian Tollett. This time, his sister Celia and daughter Hannah carried out the pouring duties. Not many of us can claim two boats named in our honour!
The racks at SBC contained another boat of interest, as Adrian had sponsored it and chosen an appropriate name:
To finish, here is a photo, sent me by Ken Olisa (cox), of Adrian in his prime, in his customary bow seat, in full flow in the 1973 Lent 4th VIII.
Rest in peace.
Dan George