Ron Hext

Ronald Hext

1933 - 2019

Richard Hext wrote to Cygnet recently to inform us that his father, Ronald Hext had died on 25^th June, only days after his 86^th birthday.

Ron joined Cygnet in January 1954 while working as a clerk in the Admiralty. Although he had no previous rowing experience, he quickly developed an affinity with the sport and soon found himself rowing in one of the most successful Cygnet crews of the 1950s, a Junior Vlll coached by Bill Peer and John Bull.

The crew made its debut at Chiswick Regatta on 26^th May1956. Eric Wale, author of 'Cygnet Rowing Club: The Fifties', recalled that "The Vlll, meanwhile, had developed into an extremely effective crew - indeed good enough to win at its first regatta beating Westminster School in the final of Juniors by one length. This was an excellent result bearing in mind the large entry (17 crews) and clearly demonstrated that Cygnet again had a crew of considerable potential".

That potential was amply borne out in the successive weeks and months of 1956 and early 1957. Thus, the crew won Junior Senior Vllls at Walton on 9^th June, Kingston on 13^th July and Staines on 28^th July. These results continued a successful run of regatta wins since the early 1950s, echoing the 'victory years' of the Thirties.

C.H. Genever Watling, an earlier club history scribe, recalled Ron Hext "as a 'perpetual student' because of the number of years and different courses undertaken with various local authorities, to see him through from extra mural at Ruskin to a degree course at Keble". Ron subsequently taught economics at the local Further Education College in Rugby for many years.

His rowing career appears to have come to an end in 1957, but not before he rowed in the 1957 Head of the River Race, coming 34^th in a time of 20.29, a very creditable performance. As luck would have it, Maurice Hart, who also rowed in the crew, recently sent the Club a batch of regatta and HoRR printouts from that period, along with a photograph of the crew. The crew was steered by Colin Dominy; both Colin and Maurice still appear from time to time at Leander lunches.

Ron was one of the longest standing members of the Cygnet 300 Club and continued to follow the Club's activities with interest.

Richard Hext adds "Dad had a long and happy life, was a loving and generous husband to Judith, and father to Richard, Neil and Alison. He very much valued his time as a rower with Cygnets and his continued association with the club. He passed his love of rowing to his son, Neil and at least one of his nine grandchildren. He was very much loved by his whole family and will be sorely missed."

Ron's funeral will take place at 3pm on Monday 15^th July at Rainsbrook Crematorium in Rugby. Cygnet members would be very welcome.

Paul Rawkins

Ron is seated first left in the front row.