About Thames

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The 1960's

The Centenary Dinner, 1960

The Centenary Dinner was held in the Grocers' Hall in the presence of the Club's Patron, the Duke of Gloucester, and with the President, the Earl of Iveagh, in the Chair. The Club's guests included Viscount Simon, the Chair of the Port of London Authority, Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, Lord Cottesloe, Gully Nickalls, Chairman of the ARA, and the Lord Major of London, Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen, and the Sheriffs, who were in full court dress, having earlier attended a royal function.

The Club had launched a Centenary appeal to finance the building of a new eight-oared tank and a gymnasium, and to help with the refurbishing of the clubhouse. Ian Fairbairn made a considerable donation towards the new tank, which was to be named the Steve Fairbairn Tank in memory of his father.

Great Britain coxless four, 1961 European Championships, Prague

left to right Michael Woolner, Fred Lambert, John Stephenson, Felix Badcock (stroke)

This crew raced in the Stewards' at Henley (having already won at Ostend, Reading and Marlow), going straight into the final when Leander scratched, to meet the Trud Club, USSR. Thames had a superb start to lead by 2/3 length at the 1/4 Mile. Trud then began to close and had their bows in front at Fawley, gradually pulling away as Thames's steering became erratic, Trud winning by 2 lengths.

At Prague the four had a difficult opening heat against the Olympic silver medallists, Italy, as well as Germany and Holland. For once, Thames had a bad start and never got going properly, finishing a close fourth. In the repechage, Thames had to face Germany again, as well as the USA and Poland. The Poles set far too fast a pace, but Thames were second at 500 metres with only 1/2 length between all four crews. The Poles blew up eventually, finishing last, and Germany won by about 1 1/2 lengths, Thames just failing to catch the Americans on the line, missing second place by 1/3 length.

The first eight, 1961

Felix Badcock (bow), Doug Culpan, Scott Kennedy, John Palmer, John Stephenson, Fred Lambert, Michael Woolner, Stuart Miskin (stroke), Timothy Shaw (cox)

Like the Stewards four, the Grand eight picked up plenty of wins before Henley: Reading, Ostend, Marlow and Bedford (pictured). However, at Henley they lost a well-fought battle with Leander, who went on to lose to the USSR Navy Club in the final.

The Stewards four, 1963

The semi-final. Thames beat the Skiff Club by 1 length. Thames: A.C.W. Mill (bow), M.J. Lohnberg, J.A. Stephenson, J.F.C. Badcock (stroke). Skiff Club: J.J. James (bow), F.J. Lambert, R. Hughes, D.W. Gramolt (stroke)

John James, David Gramolt and Fred Lambert were all former Thames oarsmen, so the race between Thames and the Skiff Club was something of a needle match. Thames judged it beautifully, rowing through the opposition at the Mile after being led by 3/4 length in the early stages, to win by a length. In the final, Thames lost to Molesey by 3/4 length.

Great Britain coxed four, 1967 FISA Junior Regatta, Ratzeburg

B.R. Watson (bow), R.C. Fowler, N.M.L. Aitchison, C.J. Rodrigues (stroke), J.P. Hunt (cox)

In 1967 Thames found a representative crew from an unexpected source when a University College coxed four won the youth championships, representing the Club in exchange for the loan of the Club's Stampfli. Stroked by Christopher Rodgrigues, the four represented Britain at the first FISA junior regatta at Ratzeburg, and narrowly failed to reach the final. They won their small final, finishing seventh overall.