Globe Memorial Race
14th September 2008
On Sunday the Globe Rowing Club held a Memorial Race in honour of Peter Van Hey, former Water Safety Officer of FRC who died suddenly last year. He was much loved and respected by many members of the local Club and when an invitation was sent out to attend and join in the rowing, those who had not travelled to Plymouth chose to join the Thames Club for racing in fours and eights. The first race with three boats abreast saw Terry Smith in one boat with rowers from Globe and Martin Fakley in another, row up to the start and race a 2,000m course. It was a tight race with Martin’s crew taking first place just at the finish line. The tide was rising fast and the usually calm waters began to chop up much to the amazement of Folkestone rowers – it was like being on the coast for them.
The three eight boats took to the water rowing up the course narrowly avoiding barges and pleasure boats which unfortunately began to cause quite a swell. Dave Rumbold with Terry in one boat, John and Martin in another with Chris Lewis, Steve Edgar and Sally Watkins in the third. Manoeuvring the boats into position with the tide now flooding through the start was called and racing began. Waves lashed against the boats and over the heads of the rowers. Yachts had appeared on the Thames and sailed between the rowing boats causing more swell and waves lapped over the sides filling the smaller boats. One of the heavier boats took on so much water that the bow disappeared beneath the surface and although the rowers tried to continue it was farcical for spectators on the pleasure boat to watch and racing was eventually stopped.
Peter would have had something to say about the lack of safety and subsequent abandonment of the boat as rowers scrambled into small motorboats leaving a submerged rowing boat. All ended well and local rowers enjoyed their unusual experience
Anyone seen our bowman? Oh! There he is.
