| 14th February | Annual Dinner at the Castle Hotel |
| March | An Appeal for New Members at the Annual Meeting |
| Work in progress | |
Annual Dinner at the Castle Hotel
14th February 1936 in the Windsor & Eton Express
The oldest rowing club on the river Thames, Eton Excelsior, held its eighty-fifth annual dinner on Monday evening at the Castle Hotel, Windsor, Mr. A. A. Somerville, M.P.. who is a Vice-President, took the chair, and among others present were the Mayor of Windsor (Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Churcher), the Town Clerk (Mr. J. W. Hambidge), the Borough Engineer (Mr. J. S. McRae), Mr. A. H. Dyson, Mr. C. Dysou (honorary secre tary of the Club), Mr. V. H. Hobbs (captain), Mr. A. Bellringer (honorary treasurer), Mr. F. W. Buck (vice-captain), Mr. J. W. Tull, Mr. J. G. Tull, Mr. H. Prescott (Windsor Swim-ming Club), Mr. R. George and representatives of the Windsor Rugby y Club, Club, and and the London. Mortlake. Staines, Maidenhead and Reading R.C.’s. An excellent dinner was provided, and this was followed by a number of interesting speeches and a capital entertainment.
The loyal toast was mitably honoured at the proposal of the CHAIRMAN.
In offering the President and Vice-President, Mr J. W. TULL said they were deeply sorry that, owing to ill-health their President, Alderman Mitchell, was unable to be present, and he was going to ask the Secretary to send him a message wishing him a speedy recovery. In their President, they had a wonderful man who was not only a gentleman and sportsman but a man’s man, liked and loved by those in every sphere of life. He had heard an unemployed man who saved him pass by refer to him as the Grand Old Man of Windsor, and he thought that ex prossed their own feelings. They had about thirty Vice-Presidents, including in the first place, their worthy Chairman that evening. Mr Somerville, as well as eight members of what he considered the finest rowing nursery in the world. Eton College. Their club was deeply indebted to Eton College and its masters, who had helped them and taught them. He would like to mention Freddie Wilkinson, the brothers Blane. W. J. and L. F. H. G. and E. C. Hetherington and others, who during their years of rowing brought the club to one of the highest standards on the Thames. They also had their old friend, Mr Tommy Boswell, with them, though he noticed that Mr Boswell had begun to drift from the rowing world to the riding work (laughter). He thanked all Vice-Presidents for their support and coupled with the toast the name of Mr Somerville.
Mr. SOMERVILLE, replying, endorsed all that Mr. Tull had said concerning Alderman Mitchell, who was one of the beat, and there was no good work in the town with which be had not been usefully associated, Proceeding, he said that that had been a fine rowing day and he remembered how in his towing days they often went out when the frost rime was on the handles of the cars, He gave one or two anecdotes, commented ott the Boat Race and the good your’s work done by the Thames Conservancy, and con chuded them by wishing them a most success ful soon, which could be achieved by all Foulling together.
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An Appeal for New Members at the Annual Meeting
Is Rowing Too Strenuous for the Youth of Today
March 1936
At the annual meeting of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, held at the Royal Albert Institute on 19th March, a strong appeal for new members was made. It was pointed out by the Chairman that this shortage of recruits to rowing was not confined to their particular club, but was general; it seemed that the youth of today had not the energy to row. In the absence owing to illness of the President, Mr G. Mitchell, Mr A. H. Dyson presided, and he was supported by Mr C. D. Dyson (hon. secretary), Mr A. Bellringer (hon. treasurer), Mr V. Hobbs (captain), Mr J. Powell (assistant secretary) and a number of members.
The Secretary’s Report.
The report was presented by the Secretary and contained [?] alia the following:
The members wish to thank Alderman Mitchell for his support and his keen interest he had taken in all the activities of the Club during the season. Also to express their regret at his non-attendance at the annual supper owing to ill-health. Twelve new “full” and seven honorary members were enrolled during the season. The Hon. Secretary will be pleased to give any information required and it is hoped that anyone interested will join up this yearThis year a crew was sent to represent the club in the head of the river race. They rowed the boat down to Chiswick a few weeks before (a distance of thirty-one miles). The Ibis Rowing Club kindly placed their boathouse at our disposal and made each member an honorary member of their club during their stay. The race was rowed on Saturday, 30th March. Out of 126 crews, we started No. 64 in the Sandwich Division and finished No. 52. going up twelve places. This was generally considered a very good performance. The annual race with Beaumont College was rowed on 8th June over the Windsor Reach. Bosch. Both crews rowed down to Old Windsor, then raced upstream. The first eight lost, but the second eight were successful. After the races, Beaumont College entertained our crews at their headquarters, which was very much appreciated.
The race for the Deveraux Cup was rowed on 30th April: E. Stubbs, R. Nixon, H. Coking. D. S. Harrison, L. H. Dishmore; 1: Shore’s crew, 2. At Reading, the Junior Eight lost to Twickenham by 2 1/2 lengths. Twickenham, in this race, made the fastest time of the day for Junior Eights. At Maidenhead Clinker Regatta, the Junior Four lost to Reading. At. Marlow The Junior Eight lost to Barclays Bank. At Staines, the Junior Four beat Blackfriars, Crescent and Stroud School, and lost to Emanuel School “A” crew by one-third of a length. The last time the Club held this trophy was in 1921. The crew then was E.T. Watson, F. A. Gurney, J. B. Frampton and K. L. Guy. The race for the King’s Cup was rowed on 7th August. A. Sharratt, G. A. Blake, F. W. Buck, R. J. Cork, C. D. Dyson, 1; Waymen’s crew 2. Won by 1 length.
The Windsor v Eton race for the Peters Cup was rowed on Wednesday, 19th August, and resulted in a win for Eton by 1/2 after one of the best races ever witnessed for this Trophy. The thanks of both crews extended to Mr A. H. Dyson (the oldest member of the Club) for kindly entertaining them and some of the old old supporters to a supper after the race. In spite of a break-up of the summer, the day before the annual regatta held on Saturday, 24th August, proved as attractive as ever. The Club carried off both the Open Fours and Maiden Fours, beating Marlow on each occasion in the final. The success of the regatta was again largely due to the old supporters and the ladies who organised the teas, to whom our thanks are cordially extended. At the conclusion, another successful dance was held at the Castle Hotel, 159 being present. Our hon. treasurer and captain must be congratulated on their efforts in this respect.
This year, the Committee decided, owing to the large number anticipated being present, to hold the supper at the Castle Hotel. Owing to the ill-health of our President, Mr A. A. Somerville. M.P., kindly took the chair.
The members wish to take this opportunity to thank the Eton College Authorities for allowing us to use their premises for our regatta and the facilities afforded for winter rowing. Our thanks are also extended to Messrs. Calvert and J. Spearman for allowing us to use the river front adjoining their premises and to Mr H. Barber for a walking stick, with an interesting inscription on dating back to 1893, and lastly to our non-active rowing members.
We regret to record the death of two of our old Vice-Presidents, Lieut-Colonel Stephen Wright, O.B.E., and Canon Edwards.
The Balance Sheet
The balance sheet was presented by the CHAIRMAN and showed that the Club had a small balance on the right side. The chief items on the expenditure side were repairs to the boats, regatta entry fees, wages. etc., while on the income side, members’ subscriptions, donations and money raised by the social committee were the chief items. The report and balance sheet were adopted.
Election of Officers
Alderman G. Mitchell was re-elected president of the Club, and it was resolved to send him a letter of sympathy in his illness, expressing the hope that he would soon be restored to health. The Vice-presidents were re-elected en bloc with the names of the Mayor and Mr R. Calvert being added. Mr V. Hobbs was re-elected captain, and a vote of thanks was passed to him for his past services. Messrs. F. W. Buck, A. Bellringer, Cyril Dyson and J. Powell were re-elected to the respective offices of vice-captain, hon. treasurer, hon. secretary and assistant hon. secretary with votes of thanks to them for their splendid work in the past. The following ring committee was elected: D. A. Bond, A. G. Blake, R. G. Turner, A. Sharratt, H. A. Baker, G. W. Bayley, R. J. Cork and N. J. Mackett. Messrs. A. H. Dyson and T. H. Powers were re-elected hon. auditors, with a vote of thanks for past services.
Mr A. H. Dyson said the Club had keen officers and year after year it turned out good crews, but like other rowing clubs there was a very real need for new members. It seemed as if the young men of today had not got sufficient energy to take up rowing: they would rather spend their time at the pictures, playing tennis or motoring. Rowing was the one sport which demanded almost nightly training during the season, but it was well worth it and he appealed to the young men of Windsor and Slough to come forward and join the Club.
Mr Hobbs proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Sharratt for the work he had put in at the Club headquarters.
Mr Hobbs said the Committee, in an effort to encourage more members to join. had decided to offer newcomers membership for one year at the reduced figure of £1 1s. This would enable them to be taught to row. but that they would not be allowed to take part in races or use the Club’s pleasure boats. This would give young men a chance to see if they liked the sport. If they did, they could then become full members the following year.
Votes of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, and the Press concluded the meeting.
Mr R. GEORGE also replied and associated himself with the good wishes expressed by Mr Sommerville.
The toast of “the Club and Officers” was put forward by MR PRESCOTT who said he was esteemed it an honour to be asked, as a member of the Swimming Club, to propose this toast. Swimming and rowing were not the most popular sports, judging by newspaper standards, but he thought that all of them would rather be connected with it than any other. The fortunes of the club were largely in the hands of the officials, of whom he would mention first the Captain, Mr Vi Hobbs, whose long association with rowing jad made him knownn everywhere on the river and tideway, the hardworking Secretary (Mr Cyril Dyson), the Treasurer (Mr A. Belringer) the Vice-captain (Mr Buck) and the Assistant (Mr Jack Powell), while they also had to thank all those who formerly used to turn up and row bit now turned up and paid.
Mr HOBBS responded to the toast and said he was very pleased to tell them that the club at the present time was in a very sound position, due mainly to the hardworking officials mentioned by Mr Prescott. They were very grateful for the continued support of their non-active and honorary members. As far as rowing was concerned, they made a big effort last year and put a crew in for the head of the river race. That crew rowed from Windsor to the tideway in one stretch. They were greatly indebted to Mr Cork, the youngest member, who rowed at Number Four, and Mr Sharratt, who was called on one Saturday night at about eleven o’clock to row thirty-five miles on the following day after he had not been in a boat for six months. In the head of the river race, they managed to get up fourteen places, which was not at all bad for the first effort on the Tideaway (applause). Unfortunately, they were unable to keep that eight together throughout the summer and had to revert to four-oared rowing. Their juniors stuck on the job very well and lifted two “pots” while the maiden crew was also successful.
Mr A. H. DYSON proposed “the Mayor and Corporation”. He said that the Mayor, in his three months of office, had had a very full experience of the duties of a Mayor, for apart from a number of protracted cases at the Police Court, he has been very busy in arranging the wonderful possession for the Proclamation Ceremony, details of which were sent all over the world, while with the Mayoress he attended the great service at St George’s Chapel at the funeral of King George.
Lieut-Colonel CHURCHES thanked them for the toast and the wau ot was received and expressed his pleasure at being able to attend. They were all proud of the energetic work done by the club and especially by Mr Cyril Dyson, in helping the Jubilee possessions to go so well, and thanked them for rallying round the Corporation so splendidly. He thought they could be justly proud of the Proclamation and funeral arrangements, which were due largely to public officials like Mr Hambridge and Mr McRae. It was amazing to see how the streets had been cleaned up on the morning after the funeral.
The visitors were welcomed in a toast proposed by Mr BUCK, who alluded to the successes of the past season and spoke of the way the swimming and rugby clubs were interconnected with them. He was glad to see so many representatives of other rowing clubs.
Replies were made by Mr Borrie and other visitors.
The entertainment programme was headed by Mr Stanlye Collins, conjurer and entertainer, who not only mystified the company by repeatedly achieving the impossible, or so it seemed, but proved himself a humorist of equal ability. Excellent songs were rendered by Mr N. Sykes and Mr R. Cave.
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