A number of Billygoats attended a memorial service for Ken Drake in Cambridge last month. We heard from his family and friends of his long life of service to the scouts and the Wesleyan church and also to Cantabrigian Rowing Club (of which he wrote a history). Of course, Billygoats will be aware of his support for FHBC as successful rower and officer in the 50s, for FCBC pushing out bumps crews from the 90s until several years ago and his archiving work which appears on the Billygoats website.
There was a table of memorabilia of Ken’s life to which was added the flag he and his wife Viv donated to the Boat Club on his retirement from pushing out. Ken wrote his own life story which appears on the Ken Drake Archive page of the website under “something about the author”.
Two alumni crews graced the Fairbairn Cup this year, with a third (2010 women) sadly having to pull out at the last minute.
The Presidents VIII, though missing the current President, did boast a past President and a future President. Carole Burton Wright (President 2015-18) coxed, with David Wright (elected President Dec 2024) at stroke. Ian Clarke (President 2021-24) was going to join us to race in the Winter Head on Saturday 7th but that was cancelled due to the weather.
The perennial fear that someone would oversleep our traditional dawn practice outing proved unfounded (as always) and we had a paddle down to the bottom of the river to look at the race finish. We managed to find a decent rhythm, though there was some doubt about whether the race rating should start with a 3 or a 2. In the end we settled for a respectable 28 and got back to the boathouse in good time for some of the crew to rush back to their hotel for a quick breakfast.
Crew – Carole Burton, David Wright, Neil Gardner, Clive Woodman, Tom Watt, Dan George, Andrew Goulden, John Roberts, David Birtwhistle
Suitably refreshed we re-convened ready to slot in at position 255. We were a bit concerned to see an Oxford College crew behind us but luckily they left a large gap and, in the end, did not overtake us until grassy corner. Carole’s shouts of “you’re making them angry because they can’t pass you” drove us on (and hopefully upset them!) and in the end we finished in a creditable 17:42.7, beating 7 crews and a mere 4:07.2 behind the University crew that won it.
This was a G crew and it would have been interesting to race in the Winter Head against opposition of the same age but sadly it was not to be. Thanks to Ian Clarke, Piers Copham and Tom Swallow who were ready to step in for those who could not stay for the Saturday.
The Billygoats AGM and Dinner took place on Saturday 7th and a good time was had by all.
FCBC 1990s & 2020s
The idea of getting a 1990s Billygoats crew out for the Fairbairns arose a few months ago when Pete, Dom, and Rob (and a few other non-rowers from the 1990s) met up in London for a drink. Eventually, in September this started to become a reality as more 1990s Billygoats were recruited. Unfortunately, not quite a full boat was recruited, however there was also a 2020s Billygoats crew forming with a similar problem. So the two merged, and a boat (with a spare) was formed a few weeks before the race.
The evening before, some of us met up for a curry to begin fuelling up for the race. Rob (our cox) was called into work at the last moment, so would have to drop out. With lightning reaction speed, Aurora Barrera James (FCBC Captain of Boats) is able to recruit a replacement for Rob. Our pre-race preparation of a couple of drinks and curry done, we retire for the evening.
The crew meets up on race day for a 7am rig check and pre-race paddle. Aurora coxes this early morning row, and her excellent cox-seat coaching helped gel the crew into a smooth unit. The paddle goes well, we end up rowing all the way down to Baitsbite and with the builds and bursts we put in, it’s like we’ve never been away. After the paddle, many of us head over to Tishka’s café nearby for a welcome breakfast.
Come race time, we are placed towards the end of Division 2. We boat in Jonathan Price II with race cox Megan Tubb (current FCBC member). We set off with a strong (if a little rocky) start, and settle into a good pace. Drama then unfolds at the Gasworks where we catch up with a Crustaceans’ crew (Christ’s alumni). Oars clashed, words were exchanged (mainly coming from the Crustaceans), and then we followed them slowly just past the Green Dragon bridge where we could cleanly overtake. The remainder of the row was gutsy, and the finish was welcome!
The result: Officially, due to attempting to overtake before the Green Dragon bridge, we were Disqualified! The unofficial result was 16:42 (including ‘stoppage’ time), and even less official was our subjective estimate that the stoppage cost us at least 40 seconds. Ofcourse, the main result is that we enjoyed getting back into a Fitz boat, rowing the old course. We’ll be back, and next time will make sure there’s a larger gap in front before we set off.
Crew line up:
B: Mark Taylor (1990), 2: Jonathan Kerl (2020), 3: Peter Matthews (1991), 4: Babak Eftekhari (1990), 5: Clark Cossin (2022), 6: Peter Maynes (2011), 7: Dom Adair (1991), Str: Neil McCulloch (1990), Cox: Megan Tubb (sub for Rob Clemmitt (1991)), Spare: Gautham Venu (2014)
I recall a careers talk given to my sixth form Maths class by David Miles, an alumnus of my school in Caerphilly, South Wales, who had recently studied Theoretical Physics followed by Part III Maths at Fitz, on the topic of death being treated as a discount factor. He was an actuary, a job none of us had heard of, so he was expertly suited to explaining discount factors (which I became extremely familiar with in my later career as a derivatives trader) and how they could aid in the modelling of mortality rates, essential for life insurance and pension analysis. I met David from time to time over the years (often rugby related) but only recently realised that as well as playing rugby he had also rowed while at College, having taken it up in his 4th year when he lived near the river. He sent me some photos from the 1976 Fitz 3rd May boat, which was called “Sludgegulpers”.
The crew was listed on the May Bumps Supper menu, though it is possible that S Crawford might have replaced N Jepps on some or all of the days.
Their results were perhaps not as they would have hoped but i’m sure a lot of fun was had by all.
Coincidentally, Peter Emery had written of his sadness on hearing of Adrian Tollett’s passing, and mentioned that Adrian “was mainly committed to a “gentlemen’s crew” called the Sludgegulpers”, and referenced Ken Olisa’s photo (Adrian Tollett – Billygoats Society) of the 1973 Lent 4th VIII.
I was intrigued by the name and I looked through Ken Drake’s archive at the crew lists from dinner menus. The 1973 Lent 4th VIII were not named on the menu, however, and had no members in common with later Sludgegulper crews, so I suspect Adrian was not in the Sludgegulpers. The Sludgegulpers are first named the next academic year, as the 2nd novice VIII in the 1973 Fairbairns, and became 4th boat in the 1974 Lents but by the 1974 Mays they had dropped to the position of 8th boat. They once more made up the 4th boat in the 1975 Mays, then 3rd boat in 1976 when David Miles joined. Many of these crews had a number of names in common: cox CJ Fish making 5 appearances, S French and P Frost making 4, and S Bagshaw, J Griffin, D Bygate and D Fisher making 3 each. None are currently Billygoats so i don’t know whether any of them will ever see this post. It would be interesting to hear from them about the crew, why it was so named, and how they kept it going for that 3 or 4 year period.
Often we remember 1st boats and their exploits, but we should also remember how rowing at Fitz was an inclusive sport which allowed many undergraduates to take part and enjoy the excitement of bumps racing. The Sludgegulpers are a great example of this, as indeed was Adrian himself, and the tales Ken Drake tells about the 1962 3rd Lent crew, the 1979 4th May crew etc.
2024 marked the 15th year in which a Billygoats crew has taken part in the Rhine Marathon with a break only during lockdown.
The crew was similar in makeup to the previous year with Clive Woodman (1977), Neil Gardner (1977), our master analogist Roly Beevor (1977) (“imagine you are pushing back against a barn door” being the theme for 2024) and Simon Cole. Once again, we were expertly steered and corralled by our very own Billygoat on the Rhine, Wolfgang Wacke.
The conditions for the race could hardly have been better with clear, bright weather, what little wind there was blowing from the optimum quarter and a raging stream. Our boat this year was built more for comfort than for speed, the only slight speed-limiting factor.
We sculled steadily through the race. As always on the Rhine, a particular challenge is maintaining effective technique through the wash created by the commercial traffic on the river and in bouncy conditions our boat Albatros sometimes behaved more like a bucking bronco.
We were pleased with our finishing time of 2h 27m 30s for the 42 kilometre course which placed us 6th out of 8 in our Masters G group, 10th out of the 21 overseas crews taking part and 120th out of the total of 164 crews.
We had held our traditional training weekend per year in Cambridge shortly before the race. We were very grateful to Tony Moule for making the Adrian Tollett available to us for the weekend (a touching reminder for those of who had rowed with Adrian in the previous Fairbairns) and to Pok-man Ho for coxing us on a River Cam teeming with other users.”
Neil added:
And of further note, this year’s stern three were the same as sat in the 1980 May’s 1st Boat!
Over the Reunion weekend of Sept 28/29 2024, an ecletic (electric?) mix of half an eight of 1984, two current/recent students, Sally (1979) and Glen (1962, all the way from Canada!), met at the stunning boathouse. It was the most glorious of Autumn days – the sun shines on the righteous?
The run up to the outing was taken seriously, with John putting in daily sessions on the ergo in his bedroom, Richard completing a punishing series of early morning runs (culminating in the Ealing half marathon the day after our outing), Graeme cycling up the Tourmalet for some high-altitude training, and Martin doubling up on his on-line Pilates. On the day, Carole Burton (1984), cox, briefed the crew and under her watch we gingerly manoeuvred the shell (we loved the sliders out of the rack) onto the water and in the necessary wellies popped her in the water. Unfortunately, Sally also popped into the water as the Cam was over the bank from recent floods and she forget to seek out the edge in her wellies. Sadly, we don’t have a photo. Graeme ambitiously applied copious tape to his hands, whilst many of us marvelled at the lightness of the blades and the comfort of the handles.
Under the watchful eye of adopted coach for the day, Ian Clarke (1984), the crew paddled upstream and conducted the first of our two turns. From there, with graduate student Rob stroking, the crew had a glorious row down back past the boathouse supporters, downstream to just short of the Plough. Carole and Ian’s measured and nicely put coaching was marvelous, and there were a few nirvanic pieces where the boat glided along.
On the return, we undertook one piece of ‘work’, but in the main Rob kept us focused on slow and smooth rating under 20, as Sally dried out slowly at Bow. The river, of course, had been developed since our day, particularly on the Chesterton bank. It seemed more magical than all those years ago. Glen explained that the secret to his long sporting career has been a daily open water swim in his local lake, so that’s something we need to consider in the run up to our next outing in 2034.
Glen said: I am still exhilarated by this row – 60 years on!! Heavy wooden oars and clinker boats have been replaced by featherweight oars, and boats that even seniors can toss up over their head. It took a long time to get the rhythm back, but the younger members of the boat were very patient!! Let’s do it again!
Str Rob (current student)
7 Richard Hooke (1984)
6 Kes (just graduated)
5 John Driscoll (1984)
4 Graeme Purdy (1984)
3 Glen Norcliffe (1962)
2 Martin Caldwell (1984)
Bow Sally Howes (1979)
Cox Carole Burton (1984)
The group owe their thanks to all who made this happen. This includes Carole, Dan, Ian, Tony and Melody at the Development Office.
2004 with a bit of 2014 – Sat 10.30am
On the morning after their reunion dinner on Friday evening the 2004 and 2014 vintages combined for an outing.
Helen writes:
As much as visits to watch bumps are wonderful for feeling back involved in the sport that took up so much of our lives at Fitzwilliam College, there is nothing quite comparable to being back in a boat ourselves; sat on the Cam with the familiar sounds of catches splashing and finishes clunking. The alumni of 2014 and 2004 had a blast coming together for our outing on Saturday morning. We were very fortunate that, for once, the sunshine joined us and aggressive swans did not. A few sat strokes, the calls of a cox who you’d think had only retired yesterday, and the reach to ourselves, gave us the perfect toe dipped back into the sport so dear to all our hearts and so greatly missed. It probably helped our enjoyment levels this outing was also a rare combination of not at 6am, nor in sub-zero temperatures, nor with overdue essays hanging over us. Thank you to all those who made it possible for us.
Cox Eleanor said “I hope we’d have had to pull blades in to avoid crashing rather less frequently if I had only retired yesterday!”
Crew list:
Eleanor Brown 2004
Helen Fishwick 2014
Megan Brook 2004
Alexandra Karavla-Webster 2004
Fiona Ball 2004
Sam Brown 2004
Maddy Iqbal 2004
Alexandra Lazou 2004
Thomas Franks-Moore 2014
Sam sent this vintage photo of the 2004 women’s novice crew, 5 of whom rowed at the reunion.
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.
After spending a very enjoyable day as a guest of Richard Hooke (FCBC Captain 1986/7) at Henley and meeting some of the Billygoat living legends, I felt inspired to rifle through some of my old photos to see if I could locate any more of the disreputable outfits I’d rowed with.
Cross-referencing with Ken Drake’s excellent crew lists allowed me to refresh my memory. This first picture is of the 1985 1st Men’s Fairbairn’s Novices. I’m sure it’s only the perspective of the photo, but our cox Nick Pyke looks burlier than any of the rest of us! Perhaps the most subsequently notable oarsman, with a very determined expression on his face, is Brian Potterill at number 5, just in front of me, who went on to row for two victorious CUBC lightweight crews a few years later in 1988 and 1989.
This second photo, taken later that academic year at the 1986Lents, is of the 2nd Men’s VIII. Andy Tanton is at stroke again, with Richard Hooke at number 7. I’m sandwiched between Richard and Brian Potterill. So, do you think that Richard is early or Brian late? Richard looks slightly despairing (perhaps we were being caught?) and I look alarmed (perhaps we were likely to row over?).
The third photo is of the 2nd Men’s VIII at the 1987 Mays. It looks like a bit of a rocky ride, with the stroke side blades still in fresh air while bow side were finding the catch! Perhaps that’s why I only have it as a proof and never parted with money to buy it. We did seem to have a motley selection of blades. Perhaps they’d been mended from previous collisions? The dinner menu crew list is not quite correct, because stroke and number 2 have swapped places relative to the list. Richard’s other guest at Henley yesterday (see first photo above), John Driscoll, is at number 3. John and three other of that crew (Simon Pratt (7), Giles Foden (5) and Ben Mayes (4)), also rowed with me a year later in the 2nd Men’s VIII at the 1988 Mays.
During an idle moment last Sunday afternoon, I dipped into that definitive archive, the crew lists taken from the boat club dinner menus. (See Ken Drake Archive – Billygoats Society). It seems that in 1987 I had fallen into bad association with some of the rougher elements of the boat club. In the menu for the dinner celebrating the Lents I am listed in the 3rd Men’s as Donkeyboy Purdy, rowing at 7 between Crabber Clayton and Warp-spasm Everson. Crabber was not known for his particular skill with an oar, but he had an impressively large lung capacity, made even more surprising by his habit of lighting up as soon as we’d crossed any finish line. I can’t recall where he kept his tobacco pouch, perhaps he persuaded our long-suffering cox to have it at the ready? Warp-spasm and I shared an appreciation of fine literature and spent many pleasant evenings in Fitz bar discussing the corkscrew storylines of Rogue Trooper and Slaine Mac Roth. In fact, Warp-spasm was named (I hesitate to say christened) after Slaine’s ability to channel the powers of mother earth and transform himself into a monstrous warrior. He made it a habit to frighten freshers in Natural Sciences by spontaneously impersonating what he called a sea monster by making the blood vessels and sinews of his neck bulge terrifyingly.
On the surface of it, the 2nd Men’s of the 1988 Mays seems like a more respectable crew. However, our cox had her hands full as it was certainly one of the most argumentative crews I’ve had the pleasure of rowing with. In particular, there was a lot of backchat from Giles at bow, who would often question the necessity of another Power Ten, or a request to pull harder. I can’t blame him really, as in the Mays we ended up having to row over three times, which is enough to try anyone’s patience. In later years, Giles went on to write the excellent, “Last King of Scotland” and he became something of a celebrity, appearing on Masterchef as an epicurean judge. It rolled back the years when I watched him declare he’d rather, “barbecue his face” than eat one the offerings of a luckless sweat-drenched hopeful. Here’s a photo of us all doing our best.
Graeme Purdy, 1984
MEN’S 2nd MAY BOAT1988
Bow G Foden
2 K Abnet
3 A Larsson
4 B E Mayes
5 J Driscoll
6 P M Robbins
7 S Pratt
Str G Purdy
Cox J Eggleston
Coaches C Williams, B Potterill, P H Carroll, R Morgan
