News & Events
Mike Arnold-Gilliat
24th June 2016
Michael Augustine Arnold-Gilliat
30th April 1935 - 16th June 2016
Michael Arnold-Gilliat, variously known as Mike AG, MAG, the Dowager Chairman or just plain Gilliat, passed away peacefully on 16th June in Charing Cross Hospital, London, after a short struggle with pneumonia. He was 81. On hearing of his death, Lawrence McVeigh, one of his contemporaries remarked that 'it would take a little time to get used to not having Mike there'. It will indeed; Mike AG was part of the very fabric of Cygnet RC, a quintessential administrator who always had his 'ear to the ground' and one who never missed an opportunity to network.
Born in Kennington, south London on 30th April 1935, Mike was a child of the Blitz. Bombed out of Kennington in 1941, the family moved to Bournemouth, where Mike secured an education at St Peter's School before passing the Civil Service entrance exam in June 1953. No sooner had he joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) than he was whisked off to the RAF to do National Service. Not an obvious candidate for airborne duties, Mike was dispatched to Signals on and around Salisbury Plain where it was felt that he could do relatively little harm.
Returning to MAFF in 1955, Mike was initially assigned to the Legal Department where he made the acquaintance of John Bull, a coach at Cygnet who introduced him to the club in 1958. Little did the rowing world know what it was letting itself in for. Over the ensuing half century or so, the name MAG would become synonymous with civil service rowing in all its administrative guises on the Tideway.
Mike enjoyed his rowing, but he was not a natural oarsman and never won his Novices or Maidens as they were known in his day. Maidens were hotly contested in the early 1960s and Mike often recounted events like Evesham where thirty or more entries were not unusual. Still, he could always console himself with the social side of rowing and in 1972 he and a number of other Cygnets featured in a priceless advert for Double Diamond Bitter under the slogan 'I'm only here for the beer'. This billboard still enjoys pride of place in RG Benrath, Dusseldorf, an inter-club link first established by Mike together with Gordon Burden and Lawrence Mc Veigh in 1965 and one that remains very much alive to this day.
Rowing boats were one thing, but the labyrinthine committee structure of civil service rowing was quite another and Mike revelled in it, swiftly making his mark on the Cygnet committee. Having filled virtually every committee post in the 1960s, Mike would subsequently serve six years (1970-73 and 1980-81) as club captain and 18 years as club chairman. Civil service rowing thrived under MAG's first stint as captain and he was immensely proud to put his name to the entry form for Cygnet's first ever entry (under its own name) at Henley Royal Regatta in 1972 and again in 1973. Later, in 1980, he would rally to the cause again, stepping in as captain when the club was at a very low ebb.
Never one to take a back seat, when not commanding the higher echelons of Cygnet RC, Mike took up the reins first as boathouse secretary and subsequently as boathouse chairman, while also becoming involved in the broader Civil Service Sports Council, where he served on the Management Committee and as London Region Secretary. Mike became a vice president of Cygnet in 1978, while his services to civil service rowing and the CSSC were formally recognized in 1982 when he was awarded the Civil Service Merit Award for services to sport and recreation.
Back on the Tideway, Mike became a qualified umpire and officiated at many local regattas and heads in the 1970-80s, as well as becoming entrenched in the organisation of Hammersmith Amateur Regatta (as Treasurer) and the Head of the River Fours (as committee member and Entries Secretary). Mike could be a very canny operator and was instrumental in securing long-term sponsorship from Fullers Brewery for both these events. Nearer to home, he transformed the Cygnet 300 club into a 600 club, greatly aiding the club boat buying programme, which would subsequently see not one, but two boats named Mike Arnold-Gilliat.
MAG's enduring commitment to the wider world of rowing was recognized in 2002 when he received a British Olympic Association Award, by which time memories of the grass-roots revolt Mike and his Division 18 colleagues had led against perceived ARA misrule in 1976 had presumably been forgotten. However, arguably, the honour Mike coveted most was his election to Leander Club as a 'full pink' in 1998, a rare achievement for somebody who had never won his novices, yet one whose rowing CV ranked with the best of them in so many other respects.
No obituary of Mike AG could omit mention of 14 Vernon Road in Sheen, his home for almost fifty years. Countless Cygnet members came to regard Vernon Road as tantamount to a second home and, in a good many cases, a first home, as an army of club members became paying tenants at one time or another. Indeed, the early 1970s found the whole of the captaincy residing at Vernon Road and an invitation to a drink or dinner was a little like an audience at the White House.
No deserving body, often 'under the influence', was ever turned away from Gilliat Towers: the back bedroom was always on hand for the 'tired and emotional'; while kitchen cupboards full of canned food and drink from the local cash-and-carry mitigated the risks of starvation or dehydration. Conversely, inmates were expected to 'muck in': Norman Cowling, one of the 1970s alumni, recalls 'Mike's next door neighbour was highly amused to see that the tenants were expected to paint the house'.
But perhaps the institution that personified MAG best was the 'Gilligram' - hand-typed or written reminders penned by Mike, first as captain and later as boathouse and club chairman, these appeared with unerring regularity in the club letter rack, the forerunner of e-mails as we know them today. Often, these missives would be a summons to the White Hart or the Hare and Hounds to discuss the issues of the day. All the big decisions were thrashed out in one or other of these public houses, infused by the Aaaaabl - the absolute b***dy last - as Mike liked to refer to the last pint(s) of the day.
After an extensive career in MAFF, Mike's administrative skills were unleashed for one last time on the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (an outpost of MAFF). Not one to hog the spotlight, he was nonetheless proud that under his stewardship Kew Gardens won an award for some of the cleanest toilets in the land! The trail of destruction wrought by the Great Storm of 1987 presented an altogether different challenge. Sometime later, ananonymous benefactor presented the club with its handsome gavel, made from a Kew Turkey Oak which had fallen victim to the storm!
Following early retirement at 55, Mike became a fully paid-up member of the Golden Oldies, which met at the boathouse every Tuesday and Thursday under the tutelage of John Bull. Mike also took up globe-trotting, ably abetted by his travelling companion Andy Rawkins, visiting virtually every continent on the planet. Ever the socialite, many an unsuspecting co-traveller would return home only to find themselves on Mike's electronic rolodex for ever more. Less well known were his annual pilgrimages to Hosanna House, Lourdes as a hands-on helper: religious faith was always very important to Mike.
Mike never tired of telling his GP that 'he was easily led astray' and, in truth, we were all complicit in his antics which were legendary, particularly at locations like the Flower Pot and Henley Royal Regatta. Gracious to a fault, Mike always dismissed these as apocryphal. Yet he remained an administrator to the last, helpfully penning notes for his own obituary. At Cygnet we are fond of proclaiming the demise of club grandees as the 'end of an era'; with the death of Mike Arnold-Gilliat, that epithet is amply justified, Gilligrams and all. He will be greatly missed by his multitude of friends and family.
Paul Rawkins,
24th June 2016
Mike's Funeral will take place on Wednesday 13th July 2016 at 12.30pm
St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church, Mortlake, 61 N. Worple Way, London SW14 8PR.After the service the family and close friends will accompany Michael to the Crematorium.
By Michael's request a small floral tribute will be provided.
"Reach the Unreached" was founded by Brother Lionel, a teacher at Michael's old school, and helps poor village people in India. If you wish please make a donation, please send a cheque made payable to "Reach the Unreached", c/o Holmes & Daughters, 461 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London SW14 7PU.
The wake will be in the River Room at the Bulls Head in Barnes.
Please feel free to share your memories of Mike by using the comments box below.
Cygnet Weekly Update
20th June 2016
Hi Guys,
You've got me on the email this week so will try to keep it brief. Our only racers this weekend were Bart and Gav competing in a Sen 2- at Marlow International. No silverware though no doubt the boys left it all out on the 2k stretch at Dorney. Good effort.
Richmond regatta next weekend in which we have Charlie competing in Nov 1x. Good luck Charlie
Priority for mid-week outings is to get everyone out on the water. Matt has kindly agreed to cox an 8+ tomorrow (food for thought, a Nov 8+ at St Neots?) And thanks to Cris for manning the small boats this week. Apologies if you're out of position, let me know if I need to change anything?
Tuesday @ 7.15pm OTW
8+ Cox Matt B, 8 Patrick,n7 Rob A, 6 Nick R, 5 Scott, 4 Tom R, 3 Ben, 2 Tom B, 1 Piers2x Cris, AJ
Thursday @ 7.15pm OTW
4+ Claudia (Cox), Patrick, Nick R, Scott, Rob A
4- Matt B, Ben, Tom B, Ian M
2x Cris, Piers
1x CharlieThis week's squad erg is -
2x15mins (r19 & r26 every 5 mins)
1x 10min (r19 & r28 every 2 mins)
3mins restSee you on the water.
Nick
Cygnet Weekly Update
13th June 2016
Another busy weekend just gone with races and squad outings and sculling.
3 crews entered BMI sadly no victories or pots to report:
Big Dave French made his 1x debut rowing against someone double barrelled from TSS and we know (Charlie certainly does) that racing against the double barrelled means it's like racing two people who've sculled since the age of 2.
Charlie and Cris went close in their heat vs a crew half their age from St Pauls and the Nov 4+ were bow ball to bow ball in a furious sprint to lose by less than half a length to the Kingston crew that went on to win by large distances in the semi and final. Sharper technique and a bit more time on the ergs and we would have taken them.Lots coming up, Richmond Regatta is in a week and a half. Entries have to be in by Sunday. Yeses on the spreadsheet are: Ian M Bart, Gav, Matt, Robin (1x), Nick R (tbc) Claudia (tbc) Tom B, Charlie, Rob A. That looks like an IM2 4- or 2- and Nov 4+ and poss a Nov 4x or 2x. Anyone else available? Scott? Vasil?? Seniors can you let me know you preference or could you sort yourselves out and let me know.
This weeks outings...
Tuesday 7pm at the club, 7:15 otw
4- Rob A, Vasil, Patrick, Matt
4x Piers, Tom B, AJ, CharlieThursday 7pm at the club, 7:15 otw
4+ Claudia, Rob A, Tom B, AJ, Piers
4- Matt B, Tom R, Iain G, Ian M
4x Chris, Charlie, Ben, JezWeekend outings,
Saturday 8am OTW
Ian, Matt, Tom B, Iain G, Rob A, AJ, Tom R , BenSunday 8:30 OTW
Matt, Iain G, Tom B, Charlie, Rob A, AJ, BenFurther Ahead...
It's very much into the second half of the regatta season and a chance to explore some fresh stretches of water. Really make an effort to get into crews for these races.
- Friday 1st July - Cygnet @ Old Blades, Henley Royal Regatta. Stripy blazer social extravaganza! More from Cris soon
- July 8th/9th Henley Masters - top quality masters regatta, who is up for it?
- July 23/24 St Neots Regatta - a weekender, camping, pizza, party, mixed rowing with BBL, pots. Get it in your diary and get your availability up to date so we can plan crews with BBL.
- July 30th Henley Town and Visitors - great regatta on the iconic stretch of river.
- August 20/21 City of Oxford Regatta - traditionally our regatta season curtain closer, let's go out with good representation and better results
Finally...
It's the 300 Club Lottery that pays for our new boats. All Cygnets should be helping the club by buying tickets. Regular draws, big money prizes, next draw at Old Blades on the 1st. You've got to be in it to win it. Contact Guy du Parc to get your tickets.
Have a good week, see you Thursday,
Jez
