Charles Grimwade - Coach 1949-1968 - First VIII Coach 1958-1968 - Master i/c Rowing 1963-1968 - Founder of Monkton Bluefriars Boat Club
I applied for a job on the Staff in 1949 largely because I wanted to teach at a rowing school, and when I arrived, I was immensely impressed by the attitude of the School to rowing. It was smaller then, but there were over 100 in the Boat Club. The 1st VIII ate at a special training table, where they got a more suitable diet for athletes than did the rest of the School, and, although food rationing was still operating, there was hardly any grumbling about this. Games enjoyed very adequate time ˜ five afternoons a week from 2.15 until afternoon school at 5.00, and the 1st VIII had additional long outings on Thursdays and Saturdays from tea (which they took down to the river) until about 6.30.
When they left for Henley, the whole School gathered in the Quad to see them off, and the crew enjoyed a week of uninterrupted practice at Henley before the Regatta, staying at a beautiful house opposite Leander Club. There was plenty of time for revision before their exams without schoolmasters to get in the way, and there was never any evidence that their exam results were harmed by this break ˜ rather the reverse.
Usually on the Wednesday, about 150 of the School went in four or five buses to the regatta, and the cheering for Monkton became quite famous for its enthusiasm and volume.
When, in 1952, Monkton got to the Final of the Princess Elizabeth Cup (only to lose to Radley by a quarter of a length after a great race), virtually the whole School went up to Henley, and buses had to be hired from all manner of unlikely places. After we had won the semi-final, another rowing colleague and I were tackled by another member of the Staff with "Come and have a drink with me to celebrate". Now this was somewhat embarrassing as (like nearly all members of the Staff at that time) he was or professed to be T.T. As we walked behind him, we debated on what drink we should ask for, and we settled on being very daring and asking for two shandies. These we duly received, but were amazed when he then said to the Barman, "I'll have the same again" and was given a large whiskey. We both liked him much better for that, and he was a splendid teacher, anyway.
Those were the days !