Author: admin

Before the Headship

Fitzwilliam College marked its 100th anniversary in 1969 by attaining the position of Head of the River in both the Lent Bumps and the May Bumps. To state the obvious, the Bumps is rather particular in that a crew cannot “win it”, i.e. go Head of the River, simply by being the fastest College crew in Cambridge at the time of the races. It takes a series of successful performances over a period of years to get a College in the position to be able to challenge for the Headship. In the case of the Mays, for instance, Fitwilliam had entered the first division in 1963 and risen inexorably over the next 5 years to end the 1968 races in 2nd place.

Extracts from the Boat Club records for Michaelmas 1966:

in the final by 2 secs. We were probably 3rd fastest IV competing. Crew: B I. Hall  2 A. Baker 3 J. Reddaway 4 R. Winckless

Slap: Cox R . Sanders  Coaches: R. St John Harold, I. K. Hall, C. J. Gill, G. M. A. Proffitt                                                       

Tickle: Cox M. Fowler  Coaches:E. R. Wallace, G. A. C. Luddington, P. V. Marshall, G. M. A. Proffitt

George Proffitt (FCBC Captain in 1969 and currently President of the Billygoats Society in this anniversary year of the Headship) shared a number of photos of 1967 crews and oars for the 1967 Mays and the 1967 and 1968 University Fours, which are interspaced with further extracts from the records.

Extracts from the Boat Club records for Easter 1967:

The VIII rowed reasonably but not at their best and were knocked out by Bedford Rowing Club. The IV went on to

Coaches: P. D. Matthewman, J. D. R. Steeten, D. J. Russell

Chris Gill (previous President of the Billygoats Society) shared his recollections of the 1967 1st May boat:

Our 1st May boat was shaping up well, even though Bob Winckless had elected to carry on in a University crew of some sort, rather than re-join the College crew.  This was unusual in those days, as it was the clear understanding that Colleges ‘lent’ their best oarsmen to the two University crews during the October – March period, but reclaimed them for the whole of the summer term, culminating in the May Bumps and Henley.

The coaching line-up had been augmented by Roger Blomfield, a Shrewsbury schoolmaster (who, amazingly, was still coaching at Shrewsbury 30 years later, when my son Dominic appreciated  his coaching skills and his capacity for whisky – and his 2 attractive daughters), and Freddie Page, whose coaching at Thames RC and St Paul’s School BC had given him legendary status in the rowing world (He also, for many years, organised the Tideway Head of the River Race single-handed.  When he retired from this, it took five people to replace him). ‘Blom’ coached the crew at the start of term, although I was away for this period on a Departmental Field Course in Aberystwyth. 

Freddie was the finishing coach for the Mays – he would drive up to Cambridge each evening after finishing work in London.   He was a magical coach, cycling along 200 yards behind the crew and saying almost nothing.    After a fortnight, the crew would be going much faster.   On one occasion, he was lent George Proffitt’s bike, the cranks of which had slipped out of the normal 180-degree alignment – as a result, Freddie’s pedalling took on a decidedly bobbing look which, contrasted to his usual dignified and sedate progress along the bank, reduced us juveniles in the boat to helpless giggles.

On one occasion, when we were sitting next to each other at a Bumps Supper, Freddie – a wonderfully cultured dinner companion – remarked that one could put him down anywhere in France, and he would reckon to know a good restaurant within an hour’s drive.   How civilised was that?

On the river, the crew did well, with Fitz’s three Goldie men and some other very competent College oarsmen on board, making 4 bumps and winning its oars.  The crew went on to Henley, once again enjoying the Daniels’ hospitality and winning through to the second round by beating Furnival Sculling Club in the first.    On this occasion, we were fortunate to pick up a very memorable coach, one Surgeon-Commander ‘Johnnie’ Johnson.   He allegedly spent all year on active service in the Royal Navy (this year it had been in the Arctic), banking his pay, which would then be splurged big-time on hospitality at the Regatta.    He was an excellent coach, and took care to coach the cox too.

Extracts from the Boat Club records for Henley 1967:

to win by 1/4 length. On the third day the IV was knocked out by 1st and 3rd who led from the start.

Strangely the three pages for 1967-68 have been removed from the Secretary’s Record Book but here are some reports from the Fitzwilliam Society Journal (courtesy of George Proffitt).

Chris Gill also shared his memories of the 1968 Mays:

Work-filled days were followed by evening outings on the river, where the VIII’s position in the looming May Bumps put Fitzwilliam within reach of the Headship – for the first time in history.  Freddie Page had passed his coaching baton on to Tim Shaw, a most pleasant one-time cox from Queen’s College, Oxford and Thames RC, who now lived in Gloucestershire.   The VIII, unusually with all available talent on board – three Blues, a Goldie and five other very competent oarsmen – promised (and turned out) to be  the fastest on the river, but such conditions can breed complacency.

The Bumps arrived, but Peter Major developed a bug the evening before the first night and was prohibited from rowing by the doctor.  

Substitution and a shuffle of the crew order followed, but the crew did not row well on the first night, narrowly failing to bump Pembroke in the first half of the course and instead getting bumped by Lady Margaret just metres from the finish (my first experience of being at the receiving end of a bump).   That put paid to our chance of going Head of the River that year (although, perhaps more fittingly, the equally strong 1969 crew was to go Head 12 months later, in the College’s centenary year).

Gloom descended, Peter Major was put back into the crew regardless of medical advice, and on the second night we bumped Lady Margaret back (quite vindictively) well before the halfway mark.   Further bumps followed on the two remaining nights, but we were denied the chance of contending Queens’ for the Headship and had to be content with finishing second on the river.

Sadly, Bob Winckless and John Reddaway elected to go to Henley with University crews, so the Fitz VIII did not compete at the Royal Regatta.   It might have done rather well!

The sterling efforts of the earlier 1960s crews left Billy at the end of the 1967-68 year second on the river in both Lents and Mays, poised to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Fitzwilliam House/College in a spectacular manner.

13 bumps: Ken Drake adds to the story

On reading the post on FHBCs record 13 bumps in 1962 which included Michael Bucher’s recollections Ken Drake had the following response:

Dear Dan and Michael

It was good to read the account of the record breaking 1962 Lents Fitzwilliam 3rd crew in the Billygoats Society Newsletter. Whenever I have an opportunity when chatting on the bank between the races in the Lents or the Mays or even the Town Bumps which take place in July I explain that the record for these races is what which was achieved by this incredible crew. Another of its members was Robert Perkins who joined the Over 60s Reunion Crews I organised until recently and it was great for me to get to know someone who was actually in that boat and to hear his tale.

He told us that no one expected much of this crew and certainly not the overbump which happened during their first race. There was no one booked to act as bank party when the crew rowed again 45 minutes later and the then Captain, David Knowles, happened to be there and available so he took it upon himself to act as the Bank Party. He was, according to Robert, a real slave driver and he made the crew row flat out all the way in spite of the bumps which were taking place ahead of them. As a result they gradually got within reach of Lady Margaret VI and caught them to record the first ever triple overbump.

For the last of our Over 60s Reunion Rows we managed to get Robert and his bullying Captain, David, together and included in the account of the crew’s extraordinary records which was published in the Fitzwilliam Journal in 2015 you will find a photograph of them.

What I did not know until reading Michael’s article and enclosures was that this particular crew was the lightest men’s crew in the Lents that year. I was also unaware that the actual boat used by the 3rd VIII was really needed by the 2nd VIII but the 2nd VIII had to borrow one at rather short notice. My calculation of the distance made up by making a triple overbump is 16 1/2 lengths (7 distances between the boats of 1 1/2 lengths = 10 1/2 lengths and 6 boat lengths = 6 lengths) – that’s 330 yards (in old money) and that’s a very long way!

It is good to know the Christian names of the crew as well as their initials, surnames and weights which appear on the blade and in Michael’s article. All these details appear in this table.

Full name                        Name on Oar           Weight                      Position in crew

George Beale                G B Beale                   11.10                           Bow

John Brown                    J R Brown                  10.7                             2

John Parle                       J W Parle                    10.00                           3

Chris Fordyce                 C A Fordyce              12.6                             4

Simon Davis                    S A Davis                    12.2                             5

David Latchford            D J Latchford            10.10                           6

Robert Perkins               R J Perkins                 10.10                           7

Michael Bucher             M J Bucher                10.8                             Str

David Cuckson               D M Cuckson            8.12                             Cox

I wonder would it be possible to publish the names of the crew on the group photograph taken at the Fitzwilliam Museum (in the previous post)? David Cuckson is obviously at the front sitting on the grass but it would be nice to know the names of the back row from left to right and those seated on chairs from left to right. It is interesting that two of the coaches are wearing white blazers. They were certainly not white in 1957 so when during the five year period 1957-1962 were they introduced and why?

That crew was indeed the first ever to make a triple overbump, a feat which has been equalled and indeed exceeded since as in 2018 Mays the Magdalene IV crew did the first ever quadruple overbump, which meant that they moved up nine places in one day which is one less than the Fitzwilliam crew. That Magdalene crew made two other bumps but rowed over on the third day thereby failing to qualify for their blades if that college obeys the same rules which now appear to be common throughout most of, if not all, the colleges that you have to bump on each day to qualify.

What the article by Michael Bucher does not say is that there is in the College cafe bar an oar commemorating this wonderful achievement. It is like any of the other oars except that they bumped, overbumped and triple overbumped so many crews that instead of their names being on the blade they are inscribed on the loom.

Here are the photographs of the blade and the loom:

I have only just realised that there is an error on the loom. Can you see what it is? (update – I sent it to John Jenner and he found another error on the loom that I had not spotted so there are in fact 2 errors on the loom). As Loyd Grossman used to say in “Through the Keyhole” the clues are all there, or at any rate in Michael’s invaluable contribution to our knowledge of this extraordinary achievement. I wonder if the oars of those members of the crew who have them are correct or are as the one illustrated here?

Ken Drake

Let’s have a quiz: who can answer Ken’s questions about matching the names to the faces in the photo, when the white blazers were introduced, and the errors on the loom? Answer in the comments.

FHBC and women in the 1960s

Most Billygoats would surely agree that, after rowing, the second most important aspect of a university education is probably the opportunity to meet members of the opposite sex. As well as the 50th anniversary of the Headship and the 150th anniversary of the College, 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the arrival of women at Fitzwilliam. Before the College was mixed, FCBC shared a boathouse with New Hall perhaps providing opportunities for romance, but before 1966, how did FHBC rowers meet the women of their dreams? Eagle eyed readers of the post on FHBC in the early 60s may have noticed a comment at the end of Secretary Guy Crofts report which I will repeat here as it was badly scanned before.

The Dorothy Cafe dance and its “excess of females” had first occurred a year before in Michaelmas 1961. David Knowles expands:

It was very different then.  

The Captain, Mackness, having stated that it was time to put FHBC on the map and that part of his strategy was to have a Dance, he allocated jobs.  Venue, band, bar etc was easily decided and delegates went off to fix. “But Robin, where do we get Women?  Those few there are in Cambridge [at Girton, Newnham and Homerton] don’t go to Dances with men from Fitzwilliam, they go to Balls with men from Trinity and St Johns”?  I distinctly remember Robin saying “leave it to me” with a knowing smirk.  It had become a bit of a habit on fine days to have a pint at lunchtime and take it onto the pavement of Trumpington St and watch the talent leaving a Language School further up the street; a seed was sown.  Robin went home for the weekend to Bedford where Dad ran the printing company and came back with the grandest invitations I had ever seen – crinkly gold embossed edges, colour embossed print, FHBC crest, the lot.  Then he found his interview suit and a clean shirt, told me to do likewise and dragged me along in a support role to the School and asked to see the Head. I found it hard to keep a straight face as Robin explained that we were organising a Dance to further international understanding and maybe some of her nicer young ladies would appreciate the opportunity to meet some of the better type of Undergraduate. He could vouch for the behaviour of us lot; that it was to be a grand occasion and he hoped she would be prepared to recommend it to some of her nicest students; she, the Head, meanwhile running her fingers over the embossed writing and clearly impressed…. 

The girls that turned up out of the blue were glorious, uncomplicated and fun.  After all they were in Cambridge to become fluent in English – not for them the earnest slog of lectures and essays.  Native talent was unable to compete.  We had opened a mine of international relationships and many long term friendships and more – I know of at least two marriages – came about.  I still get turned on by [female] foreign accents!  And the FHBC Michaelmas Dance became an instant traditional fixture.

Happy days,

David Knowles

Dec 2019

Fairbairns & Pudding Races 2018

There was a strong Billygoats presence at the Fairbairns this year with a IV joining the traditional President’s VIII, which unusually raced in the Mens Senior Division at 9:30 (presumably as there was no 1st VIII this year). Again ably arranged by Adrian Tollet, the event went like clockwork on race day itself, despite our managing to somewhat disconcert ourselves the day before by questioning at the last minute whether it was necessary or wise to have a practice outing at 7am, and the danger of a lack of breakfast. It was either too late to change the arrangements or our email skills were not up to the task and, hair shirts donned, we set the alarm and tried to limit the alcohol consumption on Thursday night.

Despite our 9.30 race start causing us to rush breakfast (and, even worse, eat less!), the VIII had a good row, going over most of the course at a rating of about 30 (though there seemed to be some question in the minds of the bank party whether this rating was set by 8 or 6!). Perhaps being at least nominally Senior Men fooled us into rowing better. It certainly was the President’s VIII this year as the President once more stamped her authority on it from the cox’s seat, steering an excellent course (with no help needed!), and keeping the rating up and the quality high by calling for length and timing when she could see us flagging. Some may feel that she took it a step too far on the way back when the red mist descended and she called for those 10 stroke bursts at race pace to successfully hold off (honest!) Oriel (the winners) as they were trying to overtake us, especially for the older or more girthsome in the crew, but I wouldn’t dare think that.

We came 53rd out of 62, in a time of 17:33, lagging 3:22 behind the winners, Oriel Oxford. We were 1:04 quicker than last year when the crew lagged the winners by 4:12 so we felt it was a creditable performance. I think we can all agree that this photo demonstrates the professionalism and organisational skills of all concerned (including super-sub Roly Beevor who took it), and the flag looks nice.

President’s VIII : David Birtwhistle (Bow), Paul Wallace (2), Robert Doe (3), John Roberts (4), Nick Francis (5), Tom Watt (6), Neil Gardner (7), Dan George (Stroke), Carole Wright (Cox)

Fitz Fairbairn IV : Adrian Tollett (Bow), Clive Woodman (2), Chris Radford (3), Fabien White (Stroke), Robert Machado (Cox)

Chris Radford writes: The Fairbairn IV met for the first time as a crew at 7am on a very pleasant Friday morning to have a practice outing. We started off feeling our way and the boat was a bit wobbly, but by the time we got to the Long Reach we were rowing comfortably and Robert got us to do some short pieces at race pace on our way back.

For the race, we stepped into the boat at 14:20 and were started by 14:30. We had planned to go off at rating 22, but somehow we seem to get up to 25 and 26 and keep that going for the whole 3400m to the finish at The Plough. Some patches were much better than others but we held it together and maintained a reasonable balance of the boat and were able to send it away consistently. Two (much younger) crews overtook us on the Long Reach. Our average age was around 60, so we were pleased to put in a solid row and end up 43rd out of 55 boats. We all look forward to trying again next year.

On Saturday afternoon we had Pudding Races, once more organised by Robert Doe. Three crews made up of a selection of Billygoats, experienced student men and women, and novice student men and women raced over about 4-500m up and down the Long Reach.

In the Billygoat, the crew ‘Christmas Carole’ consisted of Carole Wright (Cox), Jeff Lyness (Str), Chris Radford (7), ??? (6), Brian Smith (5), Jared (4), Hilary (3), Ritwik (2), Jemima (Bow)

In the Ken Drake, ‘Reindeer Rob’ comprised Rob Machado (Cox), Tom Watt (Str), Tom (7), Matt Bergin (6), Irene (5), Paul Wallace (4), Conor (3), Nikita (2), Cassandra (1)

In the Ray Kelly, ‘Holly Helen’ (or was it Holy Helen) was Helen Holmes (Cox), Dan George (Str), Andre N-B (7), Will Marks (6), David Birtwhistle (5), Miguel (4), Izzy (3), Tim (2), Harriet (1)

Marshalls: Antony Moule, Robert Doe, Emily, Maya, Alan

Thanks very much to Robert for organising, the Marshalls for marshalling and apologies for the lack of surnames for the students.

It was an exciting event. The crews paddled down to the bottom of the Long Reach, doing a few 10s and practice starts on the way, with Christmas Carole the first to arrive and Holly Helen the second. These two crews lined up for the first race. HH went off the start like the proverbial rocket, building a lead of about a length fairly quickly. The 36+ rating (which over-rated CC by at least 3 or 4 pips) was maintained all the way down the course, though certain crew members may have flagged a bit towards the end. Victory gained, HH went off to pant uncontrollably and cox declared that she had remembered a concept called “the stride” from her time at Fitz and wondered whether we had any use for it.

Reindeer Rob having arrived, the next race was lined up between RR and CC. It seemed to take a while to get straight but eventually, off they went, and RRs freshness told as they won, setting up a final with HH. The organisers now demonstrated their ingenuity by setting up a Bronze Medal event between CC and Alan Marron in a single. Having narrowly lost both their races, CC were not about to lose to a single, and nor did they.

There was a bit of a delay before the final, as the umpires let some other crews come down, the rest no doubt approciated by both crews. At the starting gun, the same story was repeated with HH building up about 1 length off their high-rating start but then a new strategy was tried – the stride that cox had remembered.  Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to work that well, and coincided with a big push from RR that enabled them to pull back to about 1/3 length deficit a little after the halfway point. HH 7 man called for an “up 2”, their rate went back into the stratosphere, and HH pulled ahead, and seeing this RR lost heart and dropped back. So Holly Helen won the Puddings, and the moral of the story undoubtedly is “the higher the rating the faster you go”.

Thanks to Emily Lees for the Pudding Races photos.

FHBC in the early 60s

In addition to the 1962 3rd VIII Lent Bumps saga described elsewhere by Michael Bucher, Guy Crofts and contemporaries have been collecting photos, documents and memories of their times on the river in the early 60s. Here are a few items of interest, and some more scans of the Boat Club Secretary’s records.

1962 1st Lent VIII

1962 2nd Lent VIII

Here is the Boat Club Secretary’s report for Lent 62.

Here is an extract from the Fitzwilliam Society Journal about the Boat Club in 1962-63.

1963 FITZWILLIAM BOATCLUB REPORT

Boat Club Secretary for Mich 62 and Lent 63

1963 1st May VIII

1963 Mays and Henley

1964 1st May VIII

A record-breaking 13 bumps! – Fitzwilliam House 1962 Lent Bumps 3rd VIII

As far as we are aware, the 13 bumps made by Fitzwilliam House 3rd VIII in the 1962 Lent Bumps is a record.  Michael Bucher, who stroked the crew, shares his photos, cuttings and recollections:

The Lents in 1962 took place on February 28th to March 3rd. The 3rd VIII were a novice crew whose only rowing experience had been the 1961 Fairbairn race. I am not sure what the selection process was or by whom, but the crew consisted of:

Bow: G.B. Beale, 2: J.R. Brown, 3: J.W. Parle, 4: C.A. Fordyce,5: S.A. Davis, 6: D.J. Latchford, 7: R.J. Perkins, Stroke: M.J. Bucher, Cox: D.M. Cuckson coached by  N.Vincent, D.W. Evans and I.J. Worthington.

Added Feb 2022

Back row – George Beale, David Latchford, Chris Fordyce, JR Brown, Robert Perkins,  J W Parle,

Middle Row – Michael Bucher, Ian Worthington, Robin Mackness, N Vincent, Simon Davis.

Floor – David Cuckson, (cox),

        

The average weight of the crew was 11 stone (70 kilos). I don’t think any of us had ever seen or experienced a bumps race and we had no idea what was going on or what to expect. That year there were 5 divisions and Fitzwilliam House III was 4th in the 5th division. Churchill’s 1st VIII were 6 places lower down from us as it was their first year of the bumps, they went up 4 places, Churchill were just above C.U.W.B.C. who went down 4 places during the 4 days.

At start gun, we just rowed like hell, but not very tidily judging by the photo. By first post corner we were gaining little on Queens V but who soon put Corpus III out of their misery by bumping them in the gut. With those two boats out of the way and with clear water we rowed down Kings III for an overbump by the Glass Houses. The bank crew then instructed us to turn around and row down to Baitsbite lock and prepare to row again at the bottom of division IV. Our boat was due back at the Fitz boathouse for the 2nd VIII crew to row in  Division III and as the college only possessed two eight’s at the time, another eight had to be borrowed!

Back down at the lock, we had half an hour to get out of the boat, congratulate ourselves and generally get pumped up before the division IV boats arrived. Confidence levels were very high for a quick bump, these novices had got it all sorted!

The start gun is slightly muffled near the lock but we took off fast and this time the balance and feel of the boat was definitely better. However with no boat chasing us it was slightly weird as we had no idea how we were doing. Very soon boats seem to be drawn up to the banks on either side and I remember thinking that if there were 16 boats in a division and we are the 17th boat there may be no boats at all ahead of us to bump. By the time we got to the Gut we had already rowed about half of the course almost flat out and we were beginning to flag as well as losing our confidence. I kept asking the cox what he could see ahead but he was busy steering us round the confusion of bumped boats and he couldn’t see much. As we rounded Grassy Corner and the Cam opened up into the Plough Reach I again asked and he replied that he thought he saw the stern of a boat rowing around Ditton Corner heading up the Long Reach. I asked him to call out to up the rating for 10 and 10 and say there was a boat ahead but not to mention how far it was ahead, the river was clear and we were rowing well. As we turned round the Ditton I glanced up the Reach over my shoulder and saw a rather ragged boat, gently rowing, about 70 yards ahead. By this time our bank crew were beginning to shout and become generally excited. The whole boat crew were now really getting it together and I remember thinking that if the bumps course is only about half the length of the Fairbairn course we couldn’t really be that tired so I kept the rating up to the max. We made a bump 30 yards from the finish line while the bank crew worked out that we had bumped Lady Margaret VI and made a triple overbump and a gain of 17 ½ boat lengths. A gain was of 10 places in the day overall.

We bumped Caius III, Peterhouse III and Lady Margaret V over the next 3 days ending halfway up division IV for a total 13 places gained.

Here is the Boat Club Secretary’s entry for Lent 1962. I hope it is readable.

Ken Drake adds to the story

Update November 2020 – David Knowles found a letter in his attic:

3rd Lent Boat

May Bumps 1962 (update Feb 2022)

Many of the Lent 3rd VIII continued to row in the Mays 1962. Jonathan Harris rowed in it (he had stroked the 1961 Fairbairn novice crew “Eli” which was the 4th boat and was awarded the Billygoats Crockpots because they  “gave of their best in the race, going up 10 places”) and sent this photo 

Fitzwilliam House 3rd VIII in The Gut on Thursday 14/6/62 during 1962 May races; Bow J Parle, 2 R Brown, 3 D Willats, 4 M Bucher, 5 C Fordyce, 6 JC Harris [1.87m 203kg*], 7 B Atkins, Str D Latchford. Cox D Cuckson

Reunion Row 2018

Reunion Rowers enjoyed outings in an eight and a four with the support of the Boat Club Captains and graduate rowers. Alumni matriculation years varied from 1970 to 1998, with five alumni from 1988.  All enjoyed themselves greatly, with those, who had not rowed for a while, relishing the “visceral” feel of being ‘on the water’ again.

Reunion Rower Katie Bycroft commented “It wasn’t blue skies and warm sunshine on the river last Saturday, but the heady sense of a Cambridge summer term hit me forcibly as we ran down to the boathouse from Fitz. The boathouse was stunning, almost unrecognisable with shiny new boats, light oars with no splinters, and a state-of-the-art racking system. Wonderful! The outing (the terminology quickly came flooding back) was great fun. I loved hearing all those phrases again: bow four, from backstops, half slide, square blades… Go! We managed to sit the boat occasionally, but that wasn’t really the point. To be on the Cam in a swish boat with friends and other alumni, indulging in a sport that I grew to love in my time at Fitz, was a treat that I will remember for a long time.”

All our crews are now mixed M/W, reflecting the change in college demographics. ‘Mixed’ is also a good description of the variation in recent experience and fitness levels. Technique soon comes back, if not ideal balance.

We were especially pleased to welcome John Eisold (retired Fitz Head Porter), and his daughter, to see the brand new four, named after him, take to the water.  Our thanks as always to Antony Moule, College Boatman and Coach, for his excellent support. Donna Thomas, from the Development Office, provided bank support, and recorded the event on camera. Photos are here:

IMG_0326

The Reunion Rowing is now being organised under the auspices of the Billygoats Society. We welcome all alumni who wish to row at the Reunion weekend, not just those from invited years. If you wish to put a crew together from your years, or would like to go on the crew list for future years, please contact Brian Smith (email billygoatsrowing@billygoats.org.uk and put Reunion Row in the title). We email potential rowers in the Spring and crews are ‘finalised’ in early September, with the usual last-minute adjustments on the day.

Brian is looking for a co-organiser at the 2019 Reunion as Mike Thomas will, regretfully, be stepping down. (Note from Mike – I have really enjoyed co-organising the Reunion Row with Brian, following on the tradition of the prior ‘Over Sixties’ rowing.  It has been great to widen the age range of alumni rowing.  All who take part really enjoy it, as the smiles at the end of the outing show – be they for renewing old friendships, physical enjoyment, or just survival without catching a crab.)

Billy Kid
Bow Clare Roberts-Garzaniti 88-91 Bow Emily Lees Current
2 Heidi Whitelock 88-91 2 Vincent Toolan 88-91
3 Stefan Rennick-Egglestone 98-01 3 Mike Cowie 78-81
4 Katie Alcock (Bycroft) 88-91 Stroke Hazel Walker Current
5 Brian Smith 71-74 Cox Rob Machado Current
6 Alan Alcock 88-91
7 Adrian Tollet 72-75
Stroke Pete Howard 70-73
Cox Jess Halliday Current

Mike Thomas

Rhine Marathon 2018

Dark but not long until sun-up, that time every rower knows and associates with a cocktail of tiredness, anxiety and excitement.  Not cold but definitely early autumn: no longer the long, hot, memorable summer of 2018.  Getting on a coach in the garden suburb of Dusseldorf-Hamm we’re driven to the chemical town of Leverkusen.  Three hours later we row 42 kilometres back to where we started.

 

The Rhine Marathon has been organised by Ruderclub Germania Dusseldorf 1904 since the early ‘70s when Germany was a very different country.  Held on the first Saturday of October it now falls around Reunification Day on the 3rd and Oktoberfest, two features of the current version of Germany.

This is the tenth consecutive year a Billygoats crew have rowed the race.  We know that because, unlike banks, broadband providers and insurance companies, the organisers reward loyalty.  At the prize giving the crew were called up on stage and given engraved glasses marking the occasion.  A thoughtful touch reminding us of the first year we rowed when we were welcomed with a commemorative plate.

              

We rowed for the first time at the invitation of another Fitz alumnus who had rowed with X-Press.  The legacy was passed to us and now it’s time to pass it on.  Why do it?  The organisers provide a boat, blades and our excellent cox Wolfgang (who even stepped in to row this year as Clive was unable).  They welcome you with a meal on Friday night and organise a party on Saturday.  A coach is provided: all you do is pay.  Accommodation is arranged: all you do is book.  How long does it take?  Like the University Boat Race, but only in this respect, it’s difficult to compare year on year because of conditions but the winning crew is around two hours, category winners up to 2 ½ hours, average crews up to three and however long for the rest: not that different from a runners marathon.

Plan for Saturday 5th October 2019: you won’t regret it.

Roly BEEVOR [1977], Simon COLE [1978], Neil GARDNER [1977], Dan GEORGE [1979], Nick TITTLE [1976], Clive WOODMAN [1977]

1970 & 1971 Headship Blades

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

Fitzwilliam College Boat Club and some Bathing Beauties in the Sunday Pictorial 25th March 1956

This may well be the one and only time that Fitzwilliam oarsmen have appeared in a photograph in the national press with some bathing beauties. As our two crews were about to go out for a practice row for the forthcoming London Head of the River Race in 1956 a photographer arrived with three of the finalists of the Butlin Holiday Princess contest and asked if he could take a photograph of these girls and our two crews. The girls did not win but had a week’s holiday in London with all expenses paid. The photograph was duly taken and the full version of it is reproduced here. Unfortunately the reporter assumed that the crews were from London Rowing Club as we were using their boathouse as our base for the few days before the actual race so Fitzwilliam does not appear in the brief report accompanying this photograph. There appear to be 12 oars in the photograph so obviously four oarsmen were either too late to be included or decided they did not wish to be in the photograph.

With the help of many of those on the photograph and those who rowed in these two crews we think that the people on the photograph are as follows from left to right cox Peter Lambert, David Warrington, Mike Hall, John Dyson, John Jenner, Hilda Holt 19 of Manchester, Richard Salmon (hidden behind Hilda), Brian Wicks, Alan Warren, Jean Piggott 17 of Manchester, Tony Page, Ida Gillett 22 of Blackburn, Noel Pilling, David Robinson and John Hankin (?? behind John). The actual photograph printed in the paper excluded Peter Lambert and David Warrington on the left and David Robinson and John Hankin and ?? on the right. Whether the fact that we had this photograph taken with these bathing beauties made any difference to our success or otherwise in the actual race could be debated. The 1st VIII retained its starting position of 64th in Division 3 in a time of 21.34 and the 2nd VIII distinguished themselves by rising 96 places starting at 228 as a new entry and finishing at 132nd in a time of 22.21, both were rowing in clinker boats.

Submitted by I K Drake (1953) and A Warren (1953)