JOURNAL OF THE THAMES ROWING CLUB 1952 THAMES ROWING CLUB OFFICERS Patron: H.R.H. THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, K.G., K.T., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O. President: THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF IVEAGH, C.B., C.M.G. Vice-Presidents: J. C. BADCOCK, J. BERESFORD, J. BERESFORD JR., S. LAN FAIRBAIRN, H. F. GREENWOOD, G. C. KILLICK, J. H. PAGE, K. VERNON Captain: R. R. swatton Deputy Captains: G. J. alwin , m. b. scott Honorary Secretaries: J. H. page, k. a. williams Honorary Treasurers: H. M. lane , a. w. l . clarke Honorary Auditor: h. e. Traylen Honorary House Stewards: R. S. Hollom , R. W. messom, R. H. H. symonds Committee: g. J. alwin , a. Burrough, w. s. douglas , j. n. eldeen , P. C. KIRKPATRICK, R. A. F. MACMILLAN, R. C. MORRIS, P. S. PUSEY, H. R. SIMMONDS, J. H. M. WARD, C. A. BRISTOW (I.C.B.C. Representative) MEMBERSHIP Full.............................................................................158 Life.............................................................................122 House . 113 Country and Overseas . 189 University ....... 75 School and Cadet ..... 94 Temporarily Unclassified .... 39 On Service . 45 Total . 835 STAFF Boatman : Assistant Boatman : Steward: R. W. PHELPS D. MARRIOTT J. H. PARKER Bix Rectory The Captain in pensive mood “BERRY” from the portrait by Geoffrey Page CONTENTS page OFFICERS................................................................................................................................................. ii EDITORIAL.................................................................................................................................................. 2 THE CAPTAIN’S REPORT.................................................................................................... 3 THE CLUB DINNER............................................................................................................................4 PROLOGUES TO THE REGATTA SEASON1952 ........................................................................5 OUR TELEVISION BROADCAST......................................................................................................6 THE SEASON’S ROWING................................................................................................................. 8 HENLEY AND THE OLYMPIC TRIALS........................................................................................ IO THE ‘DE MANCHA’ SWIMMING SHIELD................................................................... 15 HELSINKI................................................................................................................................................16 HONORARY HOUSE STEWARDS* REPORT...................................................................17 JUNIOR-SENIOR ROWING..................................................................................................... 18 JUNIOR ROWING 1951-1952................................................................................................... 18 WHY DON’T WE WIN?.....................................................................................................19 TWENTY-ONE YEARS AT THE BOATHOUSE...................................................................21 THE HISTORY OF THE THAMES ROWING CLUB........................................................2 2 THE SOCIAL ROUND..........................................................................................................................23 OBITUARY................................................................................................................................................24 FUTURE FIXTURES AND ACTIVITIES 1953 MARCH 28TH THE UNIVERSITIES BOAT RACE MARCH 28TH HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE JULY 1ST-4TH HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA THAMES ROWING CLUB EDITORIAL In this issue of the Journal the accent is naturally on the Olympic Games at Helsinki. Once again we are singularly fortunate in our reporters and we gratefully acknowledge their excellent contributions. Ronnie Symonds, Captain of the Club last year, gives us two very interesting articles covering the preliminaries, the training and trials for the Games, and an account of Henley. Paul Massey, a new contributor, emerges in the dual role of competitor and foreign correspondent. Of outstanding interest and merit is the thoughtful dissertation by Ken Keniston (Harvard and O.U.B.C.), which will do much to show the Anglo-American rowing scene in clearer perspective and will, perhaps, rationalize some of the wild controversy current on the subject of English rowing performance in the Olympic Games. It is doubtful if a more competent judge exists at this time and his practical experience on both sides of the Atlantic enables him to speak with the voice of authority. Our sincere thanks to Mr. Keniston. We are happy to be able to publish a reproduction of a new portrait which now hangs in the reading-room of the clubhouse. It is of J. Beresford, Senior, by Geoffrey Page. The artist has caught ‘Berry’ in a characteristic mood and one which we all know so well. We recommend all members who have not yet viewed this latest asset to the Club’s decor to take an opportunity of doing so on their next visit to the Club. CAPTAIN’S REPORT N this, the fifth issue of the Journal, we mark eights and fours. The imposing list of victories an innovation in editorial policy; this report of young Sidney Rand must not go unremarked is by the current Captain on the year preceding and we shall watch his future in the R.A.F. with Ihis term of office. If many of the legends one has almost paternal interest. At eighteen years of heard at the bar from time to time of the good age he won seven Senior sculling events and was old days are based on truth, one can be thankful undoubtedly one of the two fastest scullers in that some of the succession of captains did not this country. have this golden opportunity to say what they Throughout the season the services of several thought of their predecessors! And one can visiting coaches were employed with grateful imagine the quandary this might so easily present appreciation and amongst others we should men­ in an unsuccessful year. The principle of noblesse tion Brian Lloyd and Bill Arthur (both of oblige would probably prompt graceful and L.M.B.C. and C.U.B.C.) and Peter Haigh- sympathetic excuses, but then one can remember Thomas. Of our usual coaching ‘family’ Freddie times when —Ah, well! Page and Arthur Sulley again did sterling work Fortunately last year presents no problem. and the Captain himself finished the Stewards Congratulations to Ronnie Symonds on a suc­ Four after Freddie had taken the earlier work. cessful season in 1952. It started on a note of Once again the administrative team in the confident optimism engendered by an imposing office served the Club with its usual smooth array of talent, all with the single determination efficiency. The Honorary Secretaries, J. H. Page in common —to wear a Union Jack on their and K. A. Williams (the former now the zephyrs at Helsinki. It is doubtful if winter Honorary Secretary of the A.R.A.), are an training has ever seen so many Blues in a excellent crew, dealing ruthlessly with the ‘cruel Tideway crew. sea’ of correspondence which threatens to engulf The best-laid plans, however.... The decision the Club from time to time. The ministrations to select the Leander Eight for the Games —and of Jock Lane and A. W. L. (Nobby) Clark with rightly so, as was proven at Henley —neces ­ the cash books and ledgers and the labours of sitated a change of plan. The ultimate goal was Edgar Traylen with the audit deserve our warmest now in the fours and a four consisting of Fisk, thanks. The care of the Clubhouse is in good Macmillan, Hobbs and Legg, with Guest as hands, Peter Kirkpatrick and ‘Sparrow’ Morris coxswain won the National Championship and (Building Sub-Committee) wresting funds from Olympic Coxed Fours trials. This was followed Bill Killick (Chairman, Finance Committee) by yet another Stewards win at Henley by a four from time to time for the purpose of restoring composed of Massey, Macmillan, de Giles and the fabric and experimenting with the plumbing. Fisk, and this crew was finally selected to row at Tod Hollom and Dick Messom have again acted Helsinki, Hobbs and Legg travelling as spare as Honorary House Stewards and given good men. Of the total of 29 oarsmen and officials account of their stewardship. And last, but in the rowing team 15 were members of this certainly not least, we have Ham Ward. His Club. The generous response to an appeal from sweepstakes and draws are an integral part of the Captain to the older members enabled the Club’s finances and his unstinted toil and the Club to pay its fair share of the Olympic efforts for the Club’s welfare must be recorded expenses and can be taken as a gesture of appre­ with a sincere vote of thanks. He has even more ciation of his sterling efforts to make the Thames ambitious plans for the future and we await contribution a worthy one, both in manpower further news with some interest. and financially. Of the Club servants, we have nothing but After Henley the Senior Eights flag was carried praise. Dick Phelps and his junior assistant, the by the Second Eight in the absence of the First ‘boy David’ Marriott, are a team of whom the Eight which was virtually in Helsinki. They Club can be proud and in whom we can consider rowed well to win the Grand at Kingston Regatta ourselves very fortunate. The condition of the and at Bedford we carried off the Senior Eights boats and oars is always first class and