On looking back through old numbers of this annual newsletter I cannot help noticing that the items of news do not vary very much from year to year. I hope that each edition includes at least some items of interest.

A large number of members responded to my recent request for funds to help with the purchase of equipment needed by a member of the school who put himself forward to selection for the Junior GB team. We were all very grateful for their generosity. The two ergometers that were obtained have already been well used, but will, I think, be most useful during the winter. We had sufficient funds within in the school budget to purchase a coxless pair, which joins a coxed pair and a double. These small boats should help enormously in our training at all levels.

A Bankers Order form has usually been included in every newsletter sent out. All current members have been sent one this year already, and one is enough! To save paper, and to ensure that you are not pestered for money every year, I will in future send out bankers order forms only to new members, and to members who have not changed their order for a few years. We are more grateful than ever for donations received regularly from members. The cost of special equipment and holiday rowing activities continues to rise, and more and more crews enjoy these special events.

Bluefriars funds are occasionally used to obtain special presents for people who have helped the Boat Club. We have recently given prints of the aqueduct to several of our hosts who have had oarsmen as guests in their homes, and we have given broaches to two 1st VIII mums (Mrs Shiela Hanton and Mrs Sally Bullock) who have both gone far beyond the call of duty in providing food and accommodation to We are considering the purchase of sweaters printed with the Bluefriars emblem. They would be available not only to members but to boys at school and to their parents who spend many hours on cold river banks. They will be sold at a small profit (of course), which will help Bluefriars funds.

We were very sorry to learn of the death of Dick Ashton. After leaving Monkton, he coxed Cambridge; his son Paul coxed the Monkton VIII. Dick and Eleanor Ashton hosted many Monkton crews on visits to training and races in London.

Bluefriars funds were used to purchase an ARA video film which introduces the sport of rowing to beginners.

The old oar shed was demolished last summer, and the larger wooden shed which now houses the oars is on its last legs. There are plans to build an addition to the downstream boathouse, to give us better facilities and to tidy up the boathouse area. It is hoped that some work will be done within the next year.

Once again I mention that 1st and 2nd VIII blazers are becoming very expensive, and members of those crews are most grateful for the temporary loan of blazers for the season. Bluefrairs funds were used to buy a second hand blazer this year. Do let me know if you have an unwanted one in a wardrobe.

Richard Ireland represented Great Britain in the Coxless Fours event at the World Championships at Nottingham in August 1986. We are Monkton Bluefriars Small Boats Head will be held on November 22nd. Please let me know in good time if you would like to enter.

If you have any news about OMs who are rowing, please do send it to me so that it can be included in next year's letter.

Dates for next year:

  28 Feb Henley Schools Head  7 Mar Avon County
 Head  12 Mar Schools Head ( 1500)  28 Mar The Head of the River Race  9 May
 Avon County Schools  16 May Hereford Schools  23 May Worcester  24 May Monmouth
  25 May Hereford  6 Jun National Schools  14 Jun Reading  27 Jun Reading Town
  4 Jul Henley  11 Jul Kingston  12 Jul Burton  21 Nov Bluefriars Head Race