EERC Supper 1939

Transcript

ETON EXCELSIOR R. C. SUPPER

Celebration of a Successful Season

HENLEY HOPES FOR THE COMING SEASON

At the eighty-eighth annual supper of the Eton Excelsior R.C., held at the Old House Hotel, Windsor, on Tuesday evening, the Club received many warm tributes for their splendid showing last year, when, for the first time for forty-five years, a crew carrying their colours reached the semi-final of the Thames Cup at Henley.

The Mayor (Councillor Mrs. F. Carteret Carey) was the chief guest and the first woman to ever attend an Excelsior supper.

Mr. A. H. Dyson, the Club’s president, was the chairman, and others present included: Mr. A. A. Somerville, M.P., Mr. T. Boswell, Mr. R. Calvert, Mr. V. Hobbs (captain), Mr. J. Hambidge (town clerk), Mr. G. A. D. Tait (Eton College), Mr. H. O. C. Boret, Mr. N. J. Huggins (Staines R.C.), Capt. J. W. Shaw (Marlow), Mr. Greenwood (Thames R.C.), Mr. A. H. Cowley, Mr. C. D. Dyson (hon. secretary) and Mr. A. Bellringer (hon. treasurer); together with a large number of members and representatives of practically all the sporting clubs in the town.

On the top table stood the cups won by the Club at Reading, Maidenhead and Staines Regattas.

The health of the King was proposed by the PRESIDENT and accorded musical honours.

The Mayor and Corporation

The health of the Mayor and Corporation was submitted by Mr. V. A. C. WOOD, the Club’s deputy captain, who spoke of the great interest the Mayor took in all forms of sport.  They were glad to see her at their Regatta and at that evening’s function.  She was the first woman to attend one of the Club’s suppers.

The Mayor of Slough had hoped to be present, but a prior engagement kept him from the gathering.  He went to Henley and took a great interest in the Club.  Slough had grown into a very big Town and they would have to look to it in the future to draw many of their members, and after all they must not lose sight of the fact they were a Bucks Club.

The toast was received with enthusiasm.

The MAYOR said she always tried to do her best for every side of Windsor’s activities and sport was a branch of life in which she took the greatest possible interest.  The Excelsior was one of the chief organizations in the two towns, and their successes of last year were first-class achievements.  She could not say how much she appreciated being with them that evening, and also the fact that she was the first woman to be allowed the privilege of attending their supper.

Mr. J. C. Fox, proposing the health of the President and Vice-Presidents, said since he had joined the Excelsior he had made many friends and for that alone he was thankful to the Excelsior Club, but he had also enjoyed some very good sport.  In Mr. Dyson the Club were very fortunate; they had a President who had done any amount of good not only for the Excelsior but for rowing generally.  He thought in rowing at the various up-river regattas one found the ideal blend of sport and fun and at these gatherings one could almost enjoy the actual rowing, but he honestly thought it was only super men who actually enjoyed a hard race.  He was certain that Mr. Boret did not enjoy racing, and judging by his face when he was on the bank at the regattas watching the Excelsior prepare to race, he did not enjoy that either.  Vice-Presidents were the life blood of such clubs as the Excelsior and it gave him much pleasure to ask them to drink a bumper toast to the President and Vice-Presidents.

The toast was accompanied by musical honours.

Mr. DYSON said he had known the Club for over sixty years, but he had never been more proud of it than last July at Henley, when as a President of a competing club he was allowed to sit in the umpire’s launch to follow the race.  It was a perfect joy to see the Excelsior crew fairly shoot away from the start.  He was sorry he was not present when they just failed in the semi-final, but they had put the old Club in the forefront of rowing in the world.  They required a new boat and if they could manage to acquire this in the next few months they hoped to reach the final this year.  The new craft would cost about £120, and they had £50 towards it.

Mr. SOMERVILLE, responding for the Vice-Presidents, congratulated the Club most sincerely on their achievements of last year.  Reading was a triumph, Maidenhead was good and Henley was great.  Much of their success was due to Boret, their coach.  Good coaches meant all the difference to rowing clubs and the Excelsior were fortunate to have such a man to help them.  He wished them every success and an even better show at Henley than last time.

The Club and Officers

The health of the Club and officers was proposed by Capt. J. W. SHAW, who said all up-river clubs watched the progress of the Excelsior last season with great interest and admiration.  The performances of the Club in previous years had been good, but that of last year must rank among the best.  He agreed with Mr. Somerville that they had much to thank their coach for he was the man who enthused the crew and licked them into a fine combination.  Everyone at Marlow wished the Excelsior good luck in the coming season.  In Vic Hobbs they had a man who was like the old soldier, he never faded away, and others who did a great deal for the Club were Buck, Cyril Dyson and Bellringer, not forgetting Mr. A. H. Dyson, who was such an enthusiastic president.

The toast was honoured and Mr. HOBBS, in responding, said last season was one of the most successful in the Club’s long history and he wanted to pay a tribute to the crew who took them to fame and glory at Henley, because for three months they gave everything they knew to training and on behalf of the Club he said “thank you”.  The Junior section also did very well and in them they had some very promising oars.  He was sorry to say that two of the stalwarts of last season’s eight would not be available during the coming summer, as they had answered the call of their country and joined the fleet air arm.  He referred to Blake and Cork, and they were very sorry to lose them, but took the opportunity of wishing them every success in their new life.

The health of the Visitors was proposed by Mr. F. W. BUCK, who welcomed the guests and congratulated Habbitts, of Reading, on his showing in the Diamonds and, on behalf of the Excelsior, expressed the hope he would go a step further in this year’s event.

The toast was honoured, and Mr. HUGGINS, in reply, said that if the Club went on as they did last season they would soon not only become the oldest Club on the river but the premier one as well.  He congratulated the Club on upholding the prestige of the upper Thames clubs and he wished them me best of luck for the coming season.

During the speeches a much appreciated entertainment was given by Mr. Leslie Wilson, the polite deceiver and Mr. J. Lawson, while Mr. G. Carter was at the piano

This was the first public dinner held at the Old House Hotel since the rebuilding of the restaurant, and an excellent meal was served.

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