The Ken and Vivian Drake Flag presented to the Fitzwilliam College Boat Club at the May Bumps Dinner 2018

It was first mentioned at the 2016 May Bumps Dinner that Ken and his wife Vivian would like to present a flag to the Boat Club as part of their Diamond Wedding celebrations, which was actually on 23rd June 2016. Many college crews winning their blades fly a very distinguished looking flag to commemorate the fact. The Fitzwilliam one was not in that category and Ken felt that he would like to present a flag which really was worthy of the college.

The aim was to obtain a flag of high quality and initially this proved far from easy. Indeed Antony Moule rejected quite a number as not being of high enough standard. He was only finally successful in finding a suitable manufacturer and design in 2018 and having agreed to go ahead the actual flag arrived a few days before the 2018 Mays. It was naturally hoped that one or more Fitzwilliam crews would win their blades and have the privilege of flying the flag but unfortunately that did not happen.

As it was intended to be available for the 2017 season any crews winning their blades in that year ought to have been the first to carry this flag. The only crew to qualify was the Women’s 1st May crew and their name will therefore be inscribed on the metal plate attached to the pole which will record the crews who qualified for and from now on actually flew the flag.

At the May Bumps Dinner 2018 Ken made a short speech and then very slowly unfurled the new flag which was being seen for the very first time by virtually everyone, including Ken. As it was finally open for all to see there was a spontaneous round of applause. Ken then presented the flag to Robert Machado, next year’s Captain of Boats expressing the hope that the flag would be proudly carried by many Fitzwilliam crews in the future. Rob must be the best qualified Captain of Boats ever in terms of rowing or rather coxing for Fitzwilliam as he has been involved with coxing the Women’s first crews since the Fairbairn of 2012 and for 18 terms he has been at the helm apart from one when he was Coxing Representative on the Boat Club Committee.