Join the club race and celebrating Teddy Whittaker

Next Sunday 4 August will be a big day for the club. We’ll have a great club race, boating at 10am.

At 1pm we’ll be christening our newest boat, a coxed four which already has a win under its belt from Molesey last weekend: the Teddy Whittaker

Edward Henry Whittaker was born in Poplar February 9th, 1931. He was the youngest of eight siblings.

He was always known as Teddy as a boy and throughout his life by his family. His wife, however, always called him Ted, and more sternly Edward, when he was getting under her feet or in trouble.

Teddy started work aged fourteen in the Royal Docks tarring ropes. This was a job he hated, so hawked around for better prospects and became a painter’s mate and eventually progressed to painter and decorator.

To improve his status further, he took a correspondence course in sign writing, a better paid skill that he much admired. This would also enable him to earn money on the side painting shop and pub signs around the East End.

He subsequently learnt the skill of gold leafing, which was in demand, particularly on pub windows. It was a job he loved and took immense pride in.

Teddy spent over 40 years plying his trade on all manner of ships that docked for repairs and refurbishment.

His proudest moment came when he applied gold leaf to the name and figurehead on the Cutty Sark when it transferred to the dry dock in Greenwich during the mid-1950s.

Teddy would be so proud that his name is now on a boat that resides in our boathouse across the river from Cutty Sark, the famous tea cutter his skilled hands once decorated which was his proudest professional moment.

Teddy has family who row for the club today, and we’re grateful to Gary Whittaker, Teddy’s son, for the donation that has allowed the club to take this step forward in our development.

Really looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend and celebrating Teddy and PBDRC.