Cygnet Rowing Club

The Alan Cox Boatnaming, Sunday 21st July 2002

As a prelude to the main excitement on Sunday July 21, about 70 members and guests assembled at midday at the boathouse to watch a mini-regatta. Dave Gleadhill steered Helen, T, Steve Keating, Neil P, Mark Wilson, Damian, Tanith and Danielle to victory over two other mixed eights. Members and guests watched in admiration as the boats whumped past, followed several minutes later by a tiny distant figure put-putting along in a launch, who turned out be the umpire, Nick Wylie. It seemed that, round a bend in the river and out of the audience's sight, Dave had made the unusual move of giving the starting order himself, but everyone was quite sure this had nothing to do with the final outcome and enormous silver pots were duly handed out by Marion Holmes, chief executive of the Civil Service Sports Council, to members of the lucky team.

Pete insists that Marion Holmes pass the Cygnet launch driving course prior to racing...

Dave gets a ticking off from the umpire "I say ATTENTION...GO, not you"...

Tina's gallant losers...

A first taste of pewter for Neil...

Steve gets another one for the box in the loft...

Was it fixed - Dave makes a quick escape...

Not the first time that Cygnet and BBLRC have crossed blades...

Master of Ceremonies (Nick again) presided as Jim Hopkins, chairman of the Head of the River IVs, presented the Golden Rigger-Jigger award to Chris Shea and Ann Southey for the year's silliest example of launch driving (vertically downwards, immediately after delivering the safety briefing to HoR IVs marshalls). The chairman of the Amateur Rowing Association itself (gosh), Di Ellis, presented a very large certificate to Mike Arnold-Gilliat in recognition of his services to sport under the Olympic Association's "Year of the Volunteer" scheme.

Ann and Chris and their Golden Rigger-Jiggers...

MAG, our stirling volunter...

As the crowd waited in breathless expectation, the Cygnet Chairman, Peter Sly, then rose to his feet and gave a speech explaining why the club had chosen to name the newest addition to its fleet, a coxless four, after Alan Cox (past Captain of the club and member of too many committees to mention). It was one of the highest honours that a rowing club could bestow upon any of its members. To paraphrase Mr Sly, he kept his speech short (as befitted its subject) and congratulatory. Perhaps the most complimentary point he made was that it was unusual to find oneself naming a boat after someone who was still able to fit into one, rather than after someone riper in both years and girth.

Some of the appreciative (tipsy) crowd...

When the prolonged round of applause that greeted this speech had died down, Alan replied with a description of how he had first become involved in rowing as an undergraduate at Cambridge University. This had begun the day that he woke with a hangover and a vague memory of meeting college oarsmen, to see a note being pushed slowly under his door with the words "Report to Boathouse 11am" written on it. Having seen the size of the oarsmen, he said, he didn't dare not turn up. After leaving Cambridge for London, Alan joined Cygnet because it seemed like a friendly club (cheers from the crowd), and very little had changed in the 20 or so years since then (more cheers). Alan thanked everyone present, poured champagne over the "Alan Cox", and led a toast to the club (thunderous volley of cheers, whoops etc).

Alan makes his speech...

Christening the Alan Cox...

Christening the Alan Cox from a different angle...

Cygnet's two Alan Coxes - one substantially sleeker than the other...

A first taste of Tideway...

She floats...

Mind the bridge boys...

The picnic that followed on the lawn featured a rather splendid collation of cold meats, salads, cakes, pies and buckets of strawberries and cream. At Alan's instigation, a Killerpisch-slamming competition was held but, sadly [thankfully - ed.], did not provoke anything to rival Chris D's Killerpisch-inspired Technically Perfect declaration. Never mind, it was worth a try.

Very grateful thanks go to Diana du Parcq for the superb cold roasts, to Sue Jackson for the wondrous puddings, and to Alan himself for the champagne and other drinks. Thanks also go to Iain H, Richard P, Andrew Bowmer, Greg, and guests Gareth Price and Sue J for helping in the kitchen.

The webmaster would also like to thank Kate Thomas for the words and Chris Davidson for the pictures on this page. Nice job guys.