News & Events
Peter Sly - Cygnet Obituary
26th March 2015
Peter Sly, President of Cygnet Rowing Club, 1975 - 2015
In 1950, an erstwhile club historian wrote "Cygnet had ever been a club to foster the social side'. No member embodied the spirit of that remark more than Peter Sly, Cygnet's longstanding club president, who passed away on 9th March 2015 at the age of 85. He died as he had lived, surrounded by his family in the peace and tranquility of 'Old Blades', his beloved residence at Henley-on-Thames.
Peter Sly never claimed to be an accomplished oarsman, but he was one of the sport's great extroverts. Nothing pleased him more than 'holding court' at Cygnet lunches and dinners or in the comfort of 'Old Blades', the most select enclosure on the Henley course at regatta time. Indeed, no visit to Henley Royal Regatta was complete without a pilgrimage to 'Old Blades' to be lambasted by Sly for one's shortcomings as a sportsman, a spouse, a club officer or whatever else came to mind.
Courtship rather than sportsmanship initially enticed Peter Sly into the world of rowing. Peter was smitten with Pat Heron, a business associate at Crown Agents (a government procurement agency for governments overseas), who filled her leisure hours coxing the women's first VIII at the Civil Service Ladies Rowing Club (now BBLRC). Sly rapidly concluded that joint enterprise held the key to a deep and meaningful relationship with Ms Heron, so he joined Cygnet, the men's counterpart of CSLRC.
More accustomed to the unscrupulous world of big business than the gentle art of pen pushing, Peter Sly took Cygnet by storm. Norman Cowling, an active member at the time, recounts "Peter had an immediate impact on all aspects of club life". In next to no time, Peter's 'can do' attitude had secured the club its first boat trailer and a new coaching launch, shaken up the club social scene and reorganized the club's finances, entrusting the boat fund to a sleek new merchant bank in the City.
Richard du Parcq, who was doing his first stint as club Treasurer, recalls "I well remember climbing, no staggering, out of Peter's Roller in St James St, after a goodish lunch, for a spot of customer feedback to the bank." Soon afterwards the bank went bust, but not before club funds had been withdrawn in the nick-of-time, following an astute tip-off from Sly.
Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, in 1972 Peter attained an ARA Silver Coaching Award and promptly set about putting it into practice. Success followed a few months later with an easy win for a Cygnet Novice Vlll at Worcester. While this would be his only claim to coaching fame, his greatest contribution to the sport lay in the world of women's rowing.
By the mid-1970s, Pat was juggling multiple roles as Mrs Sly, Captain of CSLRC and Secretary for the Womens' (National) Rowing Committee. These were formative times for women's rowing: CSLRC had graduated to the nucleus of the women's national squad, while several CSLRC members would participate in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Peter was hugely supportive throughout, becoming a serial cheer leader for women's rowing, a renowned supporter at home and international regattas and a champion of Henley Women's Regatta.
A man for all seasons, Peter Sly was the obvious choice for Cygnet club president, an office he was invited to fill in 1975 and one he held until his dying day, a time span of 40 years. Reputedly the longest serving club president on the Tideway, Peter once quipped that it was the least onerous post he had held in his life, apart from Church Warden. In reality, he moulded the presidency to suit his character and the two were ultimately indistinguishable.
Peter Sly never won a Henley medal, but he had the next best thing: a superior piece of real estate located half way along the Henley course. Suitably lubricated with a glass of wine or two, Peter would happily recount how in 1977 he was alerted at the eleventh hour (by Len Huggett) to the auction of two riverside workmen's cottages close to Remenham. Sly subsequently 'bet the ranch' to acquire the two properties and the builders moved in to transform them into 'Old Blades'.
A high spot of the early years of Peter's presidency was the President's Lunch held in the River Room at Old Blades where momentous decisions were taken, but none remembered. These occasions were always preceded by generous libations at the Flower Pot while Pat was slaving over a hot stove back at base.
Always happy to imbibe with the 'Last of the Summer Wine' set, Peter was equally at home with the younger membership, or quaffing 'Alt' beer with our friends at R G Benrath in Germany. Some members were greater butts of his jokes than others, but he was a shrewd judge of character and had a warm spot in his heart for everyone. 'Old Blades' rarely turned away a deserving waif or stray.
Latterly, Peter was often to be found taking 'walks' along Remenham Lane on his mobility buggy, wearing one of his 'trade mark' wide brim hats. This mode of transport suited him very well and allowed him to arrive in style at the President's Lunch at Remenham Club during regatta week. Following a lunch replete with port and brandy, he would happily motor back up the towpath to 'Old Blades', oblivious to all the regatta goers who had been mown down in his wake.
In sum, to quote Norman Cowling again, "Peter Sly was a genuine life enhancer. You could not have a dull time in Peter's company; he would not allow it." The rowing world will be a poorer place without Peter Sly; at Cygnet he will be sorely missed as the club prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary, devoid of its most vociferous dignitary.
Paul Rawkins, 20th March 2015
Peter Sly - Benrath Obituary
26th March 2015
Peter Sly
The late President of our London friends has passed away. For those that knew him, this news is exceptionally sad, as Peter Sly was such a key part to our partnership with Cygnet Rowing Club.
Peter was a gentleman. Whoever met him commented on his imposing stature, as well as his larger than life gestures and facial expressions. One of my earliest memories is from the 70s: with his enormous hat and his cigar he was "The Godfather" incarnate.
Peter Sly was a patriarch. I have a vivid memory from 10 years ago during a visit to Henley Regatta how Peter came down from his house above the Thames in order to greet the throng of visitors assembled on the patio by the river.
Peter Sly was a force for our integration and not just for members from his own club. He was always concerned about the Benrath rowers and their safe journeys while the UK. Through these acts of kindness both Peter and his wife Pat showed enormous hospitality.
These memories and descriptions of him can barely scratch the surface in describing the fond memories many of us hold for this gentleman, some of us as a result of over 50 years of his friendship with RG Benrath. He himself took great joy in this partnership between the clubs, a good example coming from his congratulatory speech for our 75th anniversary when he said: "Many lasting friendships have been made, although there have so far been no marriages!". You could see him smiling when he said that. He also gave us occasion to smile a lot, for example through his speech to RG Benrath in German.
The older "Head" competitors from Benrath will remember the "After Head Regatta" at Peter's house in Henley. From the 80s Peter was often in Benrath with his wife Pat, his children Prudence and Oscar as well as his mother-in-law (Peter couldn't really pronounce the German for Mother-in-Law, *Schwiegermutter). Benrathers were always welcome as guests of Peter and Pat when they visited the Thames. And in 2005 we were lucky to enjoy this on a grand scale again at a big party in Peter's garden by the banks of the Thames for the 40th anniversary celebration of the two club's partnership.
Thank you, Peter. We shall not forget you.
Ferdi Picker, March 2015
pdf of the original German version
(Translated from the original German by former Cygnet Captain Rob Henderson)
Cygnet Weekly Update: Monday 23rd Mar 2015
23rd March 2015
Good Evening,
The coming weekend is one of the busiest of the year in terms of activity around the club. Cygnet have one and a half crews racing in the Vets' Head on Saturday, and a crew in the Head of the River on Sunday. Plus Benrath are over for the weekend, and we've got an open morning on Sunday.
But first things first:
This week
Tues - Squad Erg Night - 30min r20, feet out. This will be 40% less horrible than last week (but I for one am definitely feeling the benefit of all these feet-out ergs when I'm in the boat). Hope to see lots of ergs in use tomorrow night.
Wed am - small boat outing.
Thurs - circuits - 7.15pm at the school. This will be the last circuits session of the season, as we look to move to mid-week evening outings.
Thurs - post-training food - Coach Sue is cooking this week. Please let her know if you're staying on for food (and thus avoid a FHB panic when e.g. 50% more people stay for food than had said so)
Sat & Sun outings won't be happening as usual, given that the river will be either closed or heaving for much of the weekend. Please use the energy you've saved to a) race harder, b) help out with organisation, c) socialising.
Saturday
The Vets' Head kicks off at 11am, with 50-odd crews boating from our club. If you are helping on the hard, or in a launch, or round the club, then many thanks in advance. As for the race itself, there are several crews for the loyal Cygnet to cheer on:
#16 Cygnet RC Mas.B
#81 RG Benrath Mas.E
#129 Barnes Bridge Ladies Mas.B
#155 Cygnet/Tideway Scullers Mas.F
#183 Barnes Bridge Ladies Mas.D
#198 Barnes Bridge Ladies Mas.B.Nov
There are also Barnes Bridge Ladies in composites at #122 and #138
After all of that the bar will almost certainly be open, our friends from Benrath will be down, and there will of course be ample opportunity to raise a toast to our sadly departed President.
Sunday
The race starts at 12noon, so if anything, there will be even more boats around the club than the previous morning. But only one that counts: our Novices are off at #286.
You should also be aware that we're holding an open morning - alongside BBLRC - for new and experiences rowers on the Sunday, from 10.30am to 12noon. The idea is that a few of us can show newcomers around, introduce them to what's involved if they're new to it, and culminate by letting them enjoy the top quality racing on the Tideway. If you can help out, even if only for half an hour or so, please let me or Ian know. Otherwise, if you're around doing other jobs, please make any newcomers feel welcome.
And I think that's about it for now. I'm disappearing for a couple of weeks straight after the HORR, so you'll be in Ian & Nicks capable hands.
D
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