This photo is believed to have been taken at a Regatta at Hartlepool in either 1955 or 1956. Recognisable are Roger Chicken, John Goody, Roy Smith, David Storry, John Baker, John Roe, Peter “Pop” Allen, Colin Clinkard,and Neil Simmons of Tees ARC and Harry Keightley of the Dockers. If anyone can identify the others please e-mail me to this site.
By 1999 no less than five of them had served as Club President.The photo is Copyright of The Northern Echo and is no.10957(2). I wonder if they can identify it and relate it to a story in their archives? Watch this space……
1956
Tees Dockers and Grangefield Grammar School are also active…. Old clinker Eight acquired – it’s name “Mary S Johnstone” is retained. (This boat may have come from Thames Tradesmen RC in London – I believe that Mary S J was their Treasurer/benfactor for many years).
1957
Tees RC and Tees Dockers each score 3 wins.
Tees Regatta is held at Yarm – the first regatta on the river since 1939.
Two clinker sculling boats are bought – named “Alexandra” and “Ship” after TRC watering holes.
1958
George Harrison is Captain of Tees Dockers.
Plans are discussed to replace the wooden boathouse with a larger and more permanent structure.
Tees RC 1st and 2nd Fours
From L-R: Andrew Verney, John Hilton, John Baker, Tony Frost, John Heron, David Storry, Brian Lewis, Alan Parsons and Tim Wilson. One of our double sculls was named after John Hilton’s wife Frances; John Baker, who died tragically young in 1968, was one of the driving forces in building the present boathouse; John Heron is now coxing the Veteran E 4+ and Alan Parsons is rowing in it; David Storry is a Past President of Tees R C; Brian Lewis now lives in the north west and regularly umpires there; Tim Wilson, a Vice President now lives in Putney where he is a member of Thames R C. Sadly I do not know the whereabouts of Andrew Verney or Tony Frost.
In today’s terms this crew, coached by Club Captain John Hilton, went from Novice to Senior 1 in consecutive regattas winning at York Spring, Tees, Tyne at Home and York Summer. L-R: John Baker, Tony Frost, John Heron, Andrew Verney and Alan Parsons. 41 years later Alan and John H were reunited in the TRC Veteran E crew.
1959
New Edwin Phelps sectional coxed four purchased. This boat is believed to have been one of the first sectioned racing boats. A purpose built trailer is also bought to transport it. The four is named “The Black Bull” after the pub in Yarm. Some would say aptly as it acquired a reputation for being strong but heavy in terms of both weight and gearing.
Later the gearing is lightened by the simple expedient of cutting the riggers in half and welding in sleeves to increase the span by no less than 50mm (2″). Eventually the boat was sold to St. Andrew’s University. Does it still exist?……The trailer does. It was sold to a college in Durham and was last seen at the back of DARC’s camp site looking rather sorry for itself. Perhaps it should be rescued and donated to The River and Rowing Museum…..
TRC win their first Eights Trophy at Tyne Regatta.