EERC 80th Annual Dinner 1931

Transcript

EERC Supper

Funds for the New Boathouse

The 80th annual supper of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club – the oldest on the Upper Thames was held on Monday evening at Layton’s Restaurant.  Alderman G. Mitchell, the senior Vice-President, occupied the chair, in the unavoidable absence, through ill-health. of the President, Sir George Peters.  There was an excellent attendance, those present including: The Mayor (Councillor H. S. Fox), the Deputy-Mayor (Lieut.-Colonel S. Wright), Aldermen Sir William Carter and E. Bampfylde, Councillor F. L. Ellen, Messrs. C. D. Dyson (captain), V. H. Hobbs (vice captain), V. A. Wood (hon. treasurer), L. Barrett (hon, secretary), A. H. Dyson, W. Dodds, M. Lightfoot, O. Rowland, E. C. Hetherington (who was Captain of the Club in 1919), J. W. Tull, J. G. Tull, H. Barber, J. Harding. F. W. Buck, R. C. Mills, G. W. Bayley, T. Luff, H. Luff, W. Bedford, A. Bellringer, J. G. White, W. A. Brown, J. Powell, A. Surplice, H. A. Baker, R. Long, H. Long, H. Demspter (sic), H. Spencer, A. Harris, A. Smythe, H. J. Nicholls, D. A. Bond, R. R. Taylor, J. A. Williams, H. Parks, H. Barnes, Corps, K. Ruffe-Thomas and J. Arnold (Maidenhead R.C.). and F. Hawkes and R. Bates (Staines B.C.).  A most enjoyable evening was spent, one of the features being the clever conjuring tricks of Mr. Harold Spencer, who kept those present mystified for quite a long period.  An excellent supper was served, after which the customary toasts were honoured,

“The King”

The CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of the King, which was heartily received.

The President and Vice-Presidents

Mr. H. A. BAKER, in submitting the toast of “The President and Vice-Presidents,” said the Club was very fortunate in having such a splendid President and list of Vice-Presidents, who gave the members every encouragement in the healthy sport of rowing.  They had their great friend. Alderman Mitchell, the senior Vice-President, in the chair, in the unavoidable absence of their President, Sir George Peters, who had done so much for the Club in days gone by, and who was unable to be present owing to ill-health.  Alderman Mitchell always did all he could to help and promote the welfare of the Club, and he asked them to drink the toast very heartily (applause).

The CHAIRMAN, in responding, thanked the company with an expression of sincere gratitude for the excellent reception given to the toast, so kindly proposed by Mr. Baker.  They all regretted the absence of Sir George Peters, who was always a great admirer of the Club, and he (the Chairman) shared those feelings to the full.  He hoped they would not think him egotistical if he referred to some of his own doings on the river.  He rejoiced in having been born in High-street, Eton, and he therefore celled himself a ‘Broc” (laughter and applause).  He was, too, a wet-bob, for he had had a long and varied experience of the river.  He began very many years ago with a canoe given to him by Mr. Betteridge.  He had many duckings when paddling that canoe.  He next had a “California”, which was neither a boat nor a canoe, which was given him by Charlie Barrett, and which he enjoyed “pushing” up the Thames.  Next, he possessed an old-fashioned skiff, which was a real joy to him.  Following this came an old steam launch, whose vagaries he described.  Proceeding, Mr. Mitchell referred to a four-oared race which he took part in fifty-five years ago, when he rowed No. 2 in the boat.  This four won the Ruthven Challenge Cup, and the crew was:  Alec Wilkins (bow), G. Mitchell (2), Tom Scott (3), Billy Bargent (stroke), and Ted Lingwood (cox).  Only Wilkins and himself were left of that crew.  Later he became the happy possessor of a skiff, which he had had the pleasure of handing to their Club (applause).  His rowing days were now over, and he did very much better as a fisherman.  He had much enjoyed his days on the river, and he thanked them very much for the toast (applause).

Alderman BAMPFYLDE, who also made a short speech in reply to the toast, said that although he was not a wet-bob, he was greatly honoured when he was made one of their Vice-Presidents, and he had spent a very happy evening.  He wished the Club all prosperity (applause).

The Mayor and Corporation

Mr. A. H. Dyson, in proposing the toast of The Mayor and Corporation,” said they were very fortunate in having the Mayor and so many ex-Mayors present that evening. for they represented in all a period of 18 years of the Mayoralty of the Borough.  In addition, they also had their old friend, Councillor Ellen, who they were glad to see after his recent return to the Council.  He was sure they would desire him, on their behalf, to congratulate Sir William and Lady Carter on their diamond wedding (applause).  They were really a wonderful couple, and they were glad to know that they were enjoying such splendid health.  He trusted they would continue to enjoy good health for many years to come (applause).  They were very glad to welcome the Mayor for they knew he was the right man in the right place (applause).  He was a sportsman to come forward and fill the office of Mayor after being such a short time on the Council.  He trusted he would have good health during his term of office.  With regard to their new boathouse fund, it was pleasing to know that he had received a letter containing a cheque for ten guineas, from Mr. G. P. Cartland, in memory of his brother, the Club’s old Treasurer, Mr. Tom Cartland (applause).  He thought it was very kind, and they were very much obliged to him.  He submitted the toast with all heartiness, and it was drunk with musical honours.

The MAYOR, in response, said he and his colleagues were quite overwhelmed by the reception given to the toast.  He could only say that it would give him and his Council the greatest pleasure to promote the interests of the Club and the scheme they had in hand for their new boathouse (hear, hear).  This splendid Club had a very long history – he noted that this was the 80th annual supper.  It was a well-established Club and long might it live.  It was an exceptional pleasure to him to be among rowing men that evening, because at that season his heart was away at Oxford, where his College was making a very gallant struggle in the Torpid races.  They were now third in the First Division, and there was a chance of their going to the head of the river.  The Mayor then proceeded to tell some interesting stories of his rowing days, and concluded by thanking the company for the toast (applause).

Sir William CARTER also returned thanks. and said he would be pleased to contribute £5 to the Club’s new Boathouse Fund (applause).  If twenty other people did that, he added, the fund would be materially increased.

The Club and the Officers

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the above toast, said the Club was very successful at regattas last season, but it desired better accommodation, and it was most desirous that the new boathouse should be erected.  They had an excellent Captain in Mr. Cyril Dyson, and he congratulated him and the other officers on their successes at up-river regattas last summer, when the Club won on five occasions.  This meant a good deal of hard work, and he was sure the Captain and the other officers were deserving of their best thanks (applause).

Mr. C. DYSON, in responding, thanked the Chairman for his kind words.  As he had said, there was a tremendous amount of hard work to be done. This year, he was fortunate to receive from the Dean of Windsor, who was a Vice-President of the Club, an invitation to the re-opening service at St. George’s Chapel, and it was a very notable ceremony.  In reviewing the chief events of the season, Mr. Dyson said a revue was given at the Institute by the Royal Albert Institute Operatic and Dramatic Society, on behalf of the funds of the Club, and a sum of £15 was handed to the Treasurer as a result.  Twenty new members joined the Club, and coaching them meant a good deal of work.  Messrs. Blane greatly helped them in this, and they thanked them for it.  With regard to regattas last season, the Club won five cups, which was a record for some years past.  Their own regatta was also a success.  Thanks to Mr. Bellringer, a “snowstorm” dance was organised on behalf of the Club, and this was, too, a very successful function, being much talked about in the town.  The Club had, as they knew, organised a fund for the proposed new boathouse, and they had done very well in several directions. raising quite a good sum of money.  He did not think some of them realised what an old Club the Excelsior was.  He had recently been going through some old minute books, and he discovered that the year 1851 was the official date of the opening of the Club.  He had with him that night, however, a framed document which was given to the Club by Mr. Fred Wilkinson, which showed that a rowing club existed here in 1826.  Such familiar names as Radnor, Goddard, Wilkinson, Crook, Mansell, etc., were to be found on it.  The expenses for the first year were shown to be £16, a good deal of which were put down as expenses of a visit to Monkey Island (laughter).  He thought if more residents in the district realised how old the Club was they would help them to get the new boathouse.  Mr. Dyson also referred to a gift of a document to the Club from Mr. H. Barber, which showed that a regatta was held here in 1793.  In conclusion, he again thanked them for the toast (applause).

The Visitors

Mr. V. HOBBS, in an appropriate speech, submitted the toast of “The Visitors,” and spoke of the sporting way in which such clubs as Staines and Maidenhead received them at their regattas.  He hoped that the friendship which existed between the three clubs would continue for many years to come (applause).

Mr. ARNOLD (Maidenhead R.C.) responded in an interesting speech, in the course of which he said they had always found the members of the Excelsior Club excellent sportsmen.  He congratulated them on the number of trophies they won last year, and he noticed on the table, he said, the Lullebrook Challenge Cup, which was the most handsome trophy competed for on the river (applause).  He hoped the Excelsior Club would continue to flourish.

Mr. R. BATES (Staines B.C.), who responded in a capital speech, said the London clubs rowed winter and summer, and he thought if the up-river clubs were to compete successfully against them, they must row all the year round (applause).

Other Toasts

Mr. C. Dyson proposed the toast of the Press, to which Mr. M. LIGHTFOOT responded.  Mr. L. BARRETT then submitted the toast of “The Artistes,” and the evening concluded with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem.

In addition to Mr. Harold Spencer, Mr. Ben Baker and Mr. Corps contributed a number of good songs, and Mr. A. Surplice was an able accompanist.

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