EERC Annual Supper 1934

Transcript

The Annual Supper

Good Hopes for the Coming Season

The eighty-third annual supper of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club held at Layton’s Restaurant, Windsor, on Monday evening, was attended by rowing men of many of the leading clubs on the Thames, and was a happy reunion gathering of club members.

Alderman G. Mitchell, the president of the Club, took the chair, and he was supported by the Mayor, Lieut.-Colonel S. Wright, Mr. A. H. Dyson, Mr. V. Hobbs (captain), Mr. C. Dyson (hon. secretary), Mr. W. Bellringer (hon. treasurer), Mr. F. Buck (vice-captain), Mr. J. V. Corps (assistant hon. secretary), Mr. H. Luff, Mr. J. Tull, Mr. E. Baker, Mr. Rowland George (Thames R.C.), Mr. Wisenaker (Maidenhead R.C.), Mr. Russell Bates (Staines Boat Club), Mr. E. Gower (Windsor Rugby Club), Mr. W. Dodds, and Mr. S. Bell (Windsor Swimming Club), etc.

The toast of “The King” was submitted by the CHAIRMAN and loyally honoured, being accompanied by the singing of the National Anthem.

“The President”

The health of “The President” was proposed by Mr. BAKER, who said Alderman Mitchell was rightly regarded as a great sportsman. He took the greatest possible interest in all their affairs, and they did appreciate what he did for the Club. To have such a keen President was a great incentive to the young members to train harder than ever in order that they might successfully meet the strong competition of rival clubs up and down the river. The Eton Excelsior R.C. had the reputation for sportsmanship, and it was pleasing to know that if they did not always win they always put up a good show and maintained the prestige of the Club (applause). He hoped Alderman Mitchell would be spared for many years to come to take an interest in the Club. The toast was accorded musical honours and three hearty cheers given.

Alderman MITCHELL, who was given a very hearty reception, said he was still a firm believer that rowing was the best of all sports (hear, hear). It was his earnest hope that the old Excelsior would have a good season and he assured them that he would do all in his power to help them in any way he could.

“The Eton Excelsior R.C.”

Mr. W. DONNS, who proposed the toast of the Club, said that although he himself was not a “wet bob” he always felt that greater sportsmanship was needed in a rowing club than in any other athletic body, for while you might play golf or tennis when you felt like it, if you took up rowing you had to stick at it and just go on training night after night. It wanted real sportsmen continually to make sacrifices like this. He was very glad to see the Club went to Henley last year, and he hoped they would be there again this summer. A lot of the success of the Club was due to its excellent officers. In Messrs. Hobbs, Dyson and Bellringer they had some splendid enthusiasts. The toast was honoured with enthusiasm.

Mr. V. HOBBS in his response, said the Club was now in a very sound condition, thanks to the splendid work of Mr. C. Dyson… [text cuts off]

Mr. V. Hobbs in his response, said the Club was now in a very sound condition, thanks to the splendid work of Mr. C. Dyson and Mr. Bellringer. Last summer they did not gain many successes, but they obtained considerable satisfaction from their efforts. At almost every Regatta they were beaten by the ultimate winners. At Henley they lost to London, a very strong crew, but they were not disgraced (applause). He wished to thank Mr. V. Wood, who sportingly gave up his seat in the boat to coach the eight; that was a very fine gesture, and one they all much appreciated (applause). Half-way through the season they had to break up the senior eight in order that the second eight could commence operations, but they had now acquired another boat and so that break-up would not be necessary this summer (hear, hear). They were looking to a much more successful season than last (hear, hear).

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“The Vice-Presidents”

The health of the Vice-Presidents was proposed by Mr. C. Dyson, who said he had received a number of apologies for absence from various vice-presidents, and they included messages from the Dean of Windsor, Sir Frederick Dyson, Mr. T. H. Boswell, Mr. E. C. Durant, etc. The Club was very fortunate with its vice-presidents and supporters. They had many supporters who helped them financially, and never got anything in return for it. The Club were truly grateful. Typical supporters of this kind were Messrs. J. Tull and H. Luff, who were with them that night.

The toast was duly honoured.

Lieut.-Colonel S. Wright, replying on behalf of the Vice-Presidents, said when he was Mayor, he always did his utmost to help the Club because he believed rowing was one of the finest sports there was. He hoped they would soon have a home of their own. It would be much better in every respect, both from social and rowing point of view.

Mr. J. Tull, responding on behalf of the supporters of the Club, said he was very glad to see them at Henley last year, and he hoped they would now be regular competitors at the most famous regatta in the world. In competing against many of the Clubs they were handicapped because the big Clubs rowed all the year round. With sound coaching by experts such as it might be possible to obtain from Eton College, with several years’ hard work, they could build up a crew equal to any club on the river (applause). He would like to see Eton follow the example of Maidenhead, and help themselves to the Thames Cup (hear, hear).

At this juncture the Mayor arrived and was given a hearty reception.

“The Mayor”

Mr. A. H. Dyson, in proposing the health of the Mayor, said Mr. Short was, as they all knew, a very busy man; he had attended two meetings that evening and then very sportingly come on to them.

The Mayor’s health was drunk with enthusiasm, and the Mayor replying, said he was very sorry to join them so late, but other meetings made it impossible for him to be with them earlier. He was no stranger to the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club; forty years ago, in the days of Charlie Wise, he had often done little jobs for them, and if he could do anything for them this year it would give him as much pleasure as it did forty years ago (applause).

“The Visitors”

The toast of “The Visitors” was proposed by Mr. F. Book, who welcomed the representatives of the different clubs, and mentioned that the regattas of the Maidenhead and Staines Clubs were two of the best of the season. He congratulated Maidenhead on the success of their Clinker Regatta, and hoped it would become a regular feature.

The Windsor Clubs present worked very well with the Rugby Club and the Swimming Club. The toast was duly honoured.

Mr. Russell Bates replying, said as far as the members of the Staines Boat Club were concerned, they were always pleased to welcome Eton, and they hoped to have many meetings in the near future. He wished the Excelsior every success.

Mr. Wisemaker said for Maidenhead members to come to an Eton function was like coming from home to home. It was the Club’s intention to make the Clinker Regatta a regular feature.

Mr. Rowland George, of Thames Rowing Club, said when they were in California for the Olympic Games they had many amusing experiences. On arrival they found a newspaper article describing them as “The Beef Fed Boys of Britain” (laughter). The regatta was rowed on an artificial river specially constructed for the event, and, of course, perfectly straight. At intervals loud speakers were fitted up and as they were putting in their big effort and were “all out” it was rather exasperating to hear the announcer say, “England are rowing well within themselves” (laughter). After the race, as they rowed back for the crowd to have a good look at them, the announcer, describing the victory, said the race was won by the good old racing method of getting the lead at the start and keeping it to the very end (laughter). He said although they had the Union Jack on their blazers, many people asked them what country they represented, and when he told one small child that the Union Jack was the flag on which the sun never set, the boy casually remarked, “I suppose you take it in at night” (laughter).

Mr. E. Gower and Mr. S. Bell replied on behalf of the Rugby and Swimming Clubs respectively.

Other Toasts

Mr. Mackett proposed the health of the artists, and Mr. J. V. Corps responded, while the toast of the Press was proposed by Mr. V. Wood and responded to by Mr. L. M. Lightfoot of the Windsor, Slough and Eton Express, and Mr. Thompson of the Slough Observer.

Mr. V. Hobbs proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Alderman Mitchell for presiding, and he thanked the Club for a most enjoyable evening.

A musical programme was presented by Mr. J. V. Corps, Mr. A. Gurney and Mr. Sutcliffe, while Mr. Alwyn Surplice was at the piano.

A very enjoyable evening was brought to a happy conclusion with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem.

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