Our very own ‘Boys in the Boat’!

On Sunday 12th May a 50th anniversary reunion took place at the club for the crew that finished 8th in the 1974 Head of the River, the fastest genuine club crew in the race as those finishing higher were all International club or University crews.

For context up until 1969 when the club achieved 15th place we generally never finished much above 50th in the Head. To show that this was no fluke our changeable first crew kept the clubs name in the top twenty for the next decade or so.

Individually their rowing career achievements included variously becoming Olympians, Junior and Senior Internationals, National Champions, Henley Royal Regatta winners, Head winners, Scullers Head winners, Doggetts winners, Queens Watermen, Club Captains and a Club President.

It shows the hold the club has on us all that the crew members are all still associated with the club 50 years later, including several who are still active at the club, and hold dear those golden days as Poplar boys. Their cox, Billy Hickman, sadly passed away.

The crew went afloat with cheers from the balcony of the clubhouse for a paddle about 11:00 AM and then relived old glories in the bar afterwards.

Photos: Carole Milligan