EERC in the 1920s

The Roaring Twenties

In the 1920s, the club had limited space and primitive facilities. The site was below Windsor Bridge. The storage capacity was small. This constrained how many boats could be kept, thereby restricting growth.

The rowing season ran from April to September. During the off‐season, the club closed operations, including laying off the paid boatman until the next April. The winter posed dangers. The club had to move the raft yearly to the opposite bank. This location was safer from river currents and floods.

In 1929, a formal appeal was launched to raise funds for a new boathouse. The proposal involved leasing “Dead Water Eyot” from the Borough. This is an island above Windsor Bridge, opposite The Brocas. The plan was to build premises estimated to cost £1,500. The plan was to accommodate three eights and about a dozen of the best boats, skiffs, punts, etc.

Newspaper Clippings

1924

The 1924 clippings paint a lively picture of the Club at the heart of our local community. The year opened with a well-attended annual ball at the Castle Hotel, setting the tone for a season that blended social life with sport. Reports from the annual meeting confirmed a healthy membership and sound finances, while on the river, the club competed regularly at local regattas, often performing strongly against established rivals such as Maidenhead and Marlow.

Throughout the season, the clippings trace a busy and varied programme, from club races and swimming events to the highlight of the annual regatta. Traditional contests like the Peters Cup between Windsor and Eton continued to draw attention, underlining the importance of local rivalry. Taken together, the reports capture a thriving amateur club, sustained as much by camaraderie and community support as by its competitive ambitions.

1925

This year, the Club was balancing steady progress with the practical realities of running on limited resources. The annual meeting, held at the Bridge House Hotel, reflected a period of transition, with discussion of equipment, finances, and the need to invest in better boats following the welcome news that debts had been cleared. There was also a strong sense of continuity, with long-serving members recognised for their contributions and an emphasis placed on bringing younger members into the club’s future.

On the water, the season was as active as ever, with a mix of competitive and social events. The Herbert Cup swimming race drew lively interest and a large crowd, while internal competitions such as the King Cup kept members engaged. The highlight remained the Peters Cup, where a close and hard-fought race saw Windsor narrowly defeat Eton, watched by a substantial gathering along the river. Altogether, the reports capture a club that was not only competing keenly but also strengthening its organisation and traditions as it moved through the mid-1920s.

1926

The 1926 press clippings show the Club at a moment of both ambition and self-reflection. At the annual meeting, much discussion centred on why promising crews were being caught late in races, with members calling for better training, renewed effort, and – crucially – a new racing eight to improve results. There was also talk of longer-term improvements, including the possibility of a new boathouse, reflecting a club keen to strengthen its foundations while maintaining a membership of around fifty and an active presence on the river.

On the water, performances suggested that progress was within reach. The club enjoyed success in events such as Maidenhead, and strong showings at regattas like Staines saw crews reach finals after impressive heats, even if ultimate victories sometimes proved elusive. The annual regatta remained a highlight of the season, drawing a good crowd despite unsettled weather and producing competitive racing alongside the Club’s usual social traditions. Taken together, the reports present the Club striving to turn potential into consistent success, supported by committed members and a loyal local following.

1927

1927 saw the Club in confident form, with success on the river matched by a strong sense of occasion off it. The club’s regatta produced some of the year’s highlights, including a well-earned victory in the Open Maiden Fours, where a disciplined and well-matched crew saw off strong opposition from clubs such as Marlow and Henley in closely fought racing. Alongside these competitive successes, the reports also reflect the social side of club life, with gatherings and presentations reinforcing camaraderie and recognising achievement.

1928

In 1928, the Club combined energetic fundraising with continued strength on the river, set against growing ambitions for improved facilities. A major focus of the year was the campaign for a new boathouse, with plans gaining support and early funds being raised through well-supported events such as a large Whit-Monday fair at Long Walk House, which drew thousands and contributed significantly to the building fund.

Alongside this, the annual regatta was held in fine conditions with strong attendance and smooth organisation, while traditional fixtures like the Peters Cup continued to produce closely fought racing and maintain local interest. Taken together, the reports reflect a club in a flourishing state, socially active and competitively engaged, but increasingly focused on securing a more permanent and suitable home for its future

1929

The 1929 press clippings place Eton Excelsior at a pivotal moment, with attention turning decisively toward the club’s future home. Much discussion centred on the need to replace the old and inadequate boathouse, with two competing schemes—rebuilding on the existing site or moving to Deadwater Eyot—prompting lively debate and a growing fundraising effort. An appeal to the public sought £1,500 for the new clubhouse, reflecting both ambition and urgency, while early donations and promises suggested strong local backing.

Alongside these developments, the club’s traditional activities continued, with the Peters Cup producing a closely fought race won by Windsor by a narrow margin and reports noting a successful season at open regattas. Taken together, the coverage presents a club still active on the water, but increasingly focused on securing the facilities needed to sustain and expand its future.

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References

“Eton Excelsior Rowing Club: Fifty Years On – Reflections of the President“, by Colin Oakley in Windlesora 21 (2005).

“Eton Excelsior Rowing Club” by Joyce Sampson in Windlesora 21 (2005).

1928 image is from IBCC Digital Archive. Mike Wayman, in shorts, holding an oar, is approaching five oarsmen and a rowing boat. A man in a long overcoat stands alongside the river. A note reads, ‘subject with oar Eton Excelsior Rowing Club’.

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