MCSBC 125th Anniversary in 2003
Some readers will remember the Centenary celebrations of the Boat Club, held in 1978. A large number of OMs came to the valley on OM day in June; crews of various decades went on the water (including the Monkton Olympians of 1948); 200 people enjoyed dinner in the Assembly Hall, where the Guest was Dr Ran Laurie. The preacher at Sunday Chapel was Dick Ashton, a Cambridge Blue, Vicar of Parsons Green, where the Head Race crews used to sleep on the Church Hall Floor. It is hoped to organise a special occasion in 2003, perhaps along similar lines. If you have bright ideas or would like to see a different format for the occasion, please get in touch. In the meantime, watch this space! www.bluefriars.org.uk
The Bluefriars website hasn't got much on it yet, but it has already been a useful means of communication. Results of the Bluefriars Head Race are available on the site, along with details of regattas attended by the school. Some rowing reports were posted on the site last year. We will try to make the site more active this year, so it will be worth looking at it occasionally. Bluefriars Shop
We have a small number of Bluefriars Umbrellas in stock (£20); coffee mugs (£2.50 - Good Christmas presents?); Numbered prints of the Aqueduct signed by the artist (£25 unframed). All proceeds to the fund. Bluefriars Head Race The 2000 race was cancelled because of flooding. The 2001 race took place in glorious conditions - the best ever. The boathouse area at Saltford has been greatly improved in the last year, and new rafts have made conditions much easier than in the past. With a smaller entry than usual, there were two divisions instead of four. Everyone appeared to enjoy the later start and earlier finish, and we will probably stick with this format next year. It was a pity that a school exeat kept most Monkton crews away; the date of the event will be one week later next year, so we hope to see more Monktonians taking part. Provisional date - 23 November 2002. We are grateful to many helpers who enable the event to take place. Gone are the days when it could be run by JMB + BSM and two or three dogs. Now we have St John's Ambulance, Bradford-on-Avon Life Savers, Umpires, a Safety Advisor (Graham Hockley), Marshalls, Launch Drivers, caterers, timekeepers, et al. Many thanks, one and all. OMs
Joel Chase is Secretary of University of West of England Boat Club. Tom Crisford reports that : 'Rowing at Southampton University is very different to rowing at school, the training intensity certainly takes a step up and the students play a much larger role in getting things organised. Last weekend we went to Fours Head the result was not that good but we are looking ahead to Mens Head, BUSA and Henley where we are aiming to peak. Although the training is hard, the boat club has a great social side and I have certainly enjoyed many good nights out with the Boat Club.' International Oarsmen
The internationals have been so busy that they have not had time to send news of their 2001 season. We are grateful to Peter LeRoy, Editor of the OM Gazette for allowing us to re-print the following notes, which he gleaned from newspaper cuttings :
Steve Williams stroked the GB Coxless IV which won the Silver Medal at Seville in the World Cup finals in June, rowing down the German crew and threatening the Slovenian Olympic IV at the finish. They inherited the mantle of Sir Steve Redgrave's Olympic Coxless IV. In mid-July they had secured the Gold Medal at the World Cup Regatta in Munich. The season finished with a triumphant Gold Medal in the World Championships in Lucerne in late August, maintaining Britain's unbeaten record in Coxless IVs since 1997: 'a superb exhibition of rowing in a superbly judged race' reported the Daily Telegraph. Steve also won another Henley medal when his Leander/Queen's Tower crew won the Stewards' Cup. Added by JMB in November :
Steve came third in the British Indoor Rowing Championships, behind Pinsent (5.47.5) and Cracknell (5.47.6). Steve's time was 5.54.6. The competition highlights were shown on BBC1 on 24th November. The coverage concentrated on Pinsent and Cracknell, but Steve was seen for a second or two rowing in the same race. Alex Partridge was in the GB under 23 Coxless Pair which came 3rd at Essen International Regatta, and won a Silver Medal in the GB Coxless IV in the World Under 23 Regatta in Austria. Their most remarkable performance was when, as a late selection for the World Senior Championships in Lucerne, they secured a totally unexpected Bronze Medal, sweeping through from 6th place. His Oxford Brookes IV won the Visitors' Cup at Henley. Alex's time at the British Indoor Championships was 6.08.6.
Rowley Douglas coxed the GB VIII in the World Cup Regattas in Munich, Seville and Vienna, where they won gold. The VIII finished 5th in the World Championships in Lucerne.
Bluefriars Dinner
A dinner was held at Leander Club in April 2001. There were over 60 diners, and our Guest was Richard Spratley, coach of Oxford Brookes, where so many Monkton oarsmen have continued their rowing to a high standard in recent years. We may hold a dinner in April 2002, but plans have not been finalised. The success of our dinners hinges on the presence of two or three crews who make a point of coming and meeting up with old crew-mates. Husbands, wives and other friends are of course welcome. How about your crew coming? It's a great help if someone from the crew rounds everyone up....
The Monkton Bluefriars Charitable Trust
Trustees
Jeremy Hepworth served as a Trustee from the foundation of the Trust until April 2001. Now that he is not actively involved in rowing, he felt it best to step down and make room for new faces. The other Trustees are grateful to Jeremy for his work, particularly for hosting some of our meetings and encouraging us to make some important decisions concerned with the encouragement of excellence in rowing. Three other potential Trustees attended the Bluefriars dinner at Leander Club in April, and they all accepted invitations to join us.
Rosemary Coates is the mother of the current Captain of Girls Boats, and has two younger daughters who row. The Coates family lives very close to school. Rosemary has already started helping; she is particularly concerned to guide parents new to the sport, and is happy to be contacted by phone (01225 835206).
Rowley Douglas hardly needs introduction! Not only does he have the Olympic experience which will help give some 'clout' to the body of Trustees, but he has already been of practical help in coaching and encouraging Monkton crews. He was Secretary of Boats in 1994/95
Steve Williams is a double World Champion. He was Captain of Boats in 1993/94
The three other Trustees continue to serve:
John Clark (Chairman) - rowed at Monkton 1955-1960
Julian Bewick (Treasurer) - Master i/c Rowing 1970-1994
Jane Perry - parent of current Monktonienne and also of a former member
of the 1st VIII. The Trust is particularly grateful to three other
Bluefriars who help us in practical ways: Simon Clark - coxed the 1st
VIII 1983-85, has encouraged us to focus our minds on marketing - a
tight-rope which we tread sensitively! Simon works in the marketing
department of the Royal Mail.
George Savage - rowed in the 2nd VIII 1981, is the Independent Examiner of our accounts. Joe Short rowed in the 1st VIII in 1990 and is our design expert. He has turned his hand to Letterhead design, coffee mug production, and of course the front cover of this Newsletter. If you have graphic design problems, contact him on 01225 482 388 or by email joe@kitrocket.com
Donations
Donations from members continue to increase, and allow us to be more generous with grants. The Treasurer hopes to encourage more Bluefriars to give small or large amounts regularly, as the fund is likely to become more important in years to come. If you are one of the many rowing folk who have put on a few years since leaving school, and can afford to help, then please do so. The following generations will benefit from your generosity as you did in your time.
Grants
The total charitable payments to Monkton this year were about £8,300, including the purchase of the Pair RASH2000, Bursary grants, and the usual training grants. The total paid towards Monkton rowing since the foundation of the Trust in 1997 has reached nearly £25,000.
Links with other clubs
We have continued to build useful links with local clubs. Their members have contributed to the fund, and the fund has made grants to support Junior rowing in the Bath area.
Accounts
Full accounts are sent to the Charity Commission each year. They are available on request from the Treasurer.
Julian Bewick
Monkton Bluefriars Charitable Trust
1 Church Cottages
Monkton Combe
Bath BA2 7HB