Easter Training took place in France as usual. We are as ever grateful to Lionel Girard and the University of Nantes for welcoming us and allowing us to use their superb facilities and water. 24 people were in the party, including 5 coaches, the 1st VIII, Colts IV and Girls IV.

An innovation this year has been a Family Sunday Lunch, held the week after crews returned from training camp in France. A group of coaches, parents and members of MCSBC filled Nightingales Restaurant at Limpley Stoke and enjoyed an informal gathering with no speeches, but plenty of conversation. A second lunch had been planned for the day after the Bluefriars Head Race, but Nightingales had sufferd the same fate as boathouses on the Avon, and had been flooded.

A kind local supporter of the Boat Club has volunteered to help with the Secretary's Bluefriars paper-mountain, so we hope to have some extra time to get more done for the club and the charity. We plan to be of more help to parents who come to regattas; to increase the number of supporters who contribute to funds; to remind people of the various Bluefriars items we have for sale - coffee mugs, clothing, umbrellas, the aqueduct print. Sales from all these items send money direct to the fund. We hope to organise another Bluefriars Sunday lunch, following last year's successful occasion. Watch this space, and expect some more correspondence!

All this work costs money, and we are keen that our funds go to help the young to row. Each edition of the Newsletter costs in excess of £1 to produce and send out. Do you give at least that much each year? Please do fill in the Bankers Order Mandate if you do not already subscribe! The young are not expected to pay at all, but when you become rich or famous, the sky's the limit!