On Saturday 17 March, Shiplake College held the highly anticipated ‘It’s More Than A Boathouse Dinner’ to kick-start a fundraising campaign for a proposed new Boathouse and Multi-Activity Centre. Despite surprise wintery conditions brought on by the ‘mini Beast from the East’, there were just over 200 guests, including parents, former pupils, staff, governors. Distinguished members of the rowing world including Chairman of British Rowing Annamarie Phelps, the Chair of Henley Women’s Regatta, Fiona Dennis, and representatives from Leander Rowing Club also attended.
Headmaster Gregg Davies welcomed the guests and spoke about the decision made ten years ago to focus energy towards taking the College from being a good rowing school to being one of the best in the country:
“First we needed to get the right people in place, and we now have Director of Rowing David Currie and 1st VIII Coach Hugh Mackworth-Praed. We were Schools’ Head champions and semi-finalists at Henley last year and won a silver at the Schools’ Head of the River last week; the time is now right to replace the dilapidated boathouses, which many former pupils at the dinner will have used themselves.”
Amongst the guests, there were the four members of the first crew to race at Henley Royal Regatta in 1964 and three rowing Olympians and Shiplake former pupils, Richard Lester, Ben Hunt-Davis and Will Satch. Lester has also been a member of the governing body for over 40 years and was presented with a Shiplake rowing blazer by Chairman of Governors, The Right Hon Tim Eggar.
The evening included an interview with Hunt-Davis and Satch. Ben achieved gold at Sydney 2000 and Will, who is still a member of the GB rowing team, achieved Bronze at London 2012 and Gold at Rio 2016 and is aiming for Tokyo 2020. The guest speakers, interviewed by former Shiplake pupil and current BBC commentator and TV presenter James Burridge, spoke about the teachers who influenced them whilst at Shiplake and their steps to becoming Olympic champions upon leaving the College. They compared notes on what it means to be part of the GB squad now and in the 1990s and about the mental and physical challenges of preparing to race and what goes through their minds when on the start line. Both speakers advised parents not to push their children too hard if they want them to achieve similar success, but they had differing answers to how they look after their respective Olympic medals.
A live auction, conducted by TV presenter and former Shiplake pupil Jonty Hearnden, along with a raffle and silent auction that ran throughout the night, helped to raise £27,000 for the new development. Previously approved plans for the facility saw increased and improved boat storage, a workshop, new fitness area, a rifle/archery range and other storage for co-curricular activities. The College awaits news about a revised planning application that also incorporates changing facilities and toilets within the main building, a double-storey indoor climbing wall, and a balcony accessed from the ergo-training area that doubles up as a function room with adjacent kitchenette.
Gregg Davies said,
“Thank you so much to all those who braved the weather to attend and help make the night such a tremendous success. Thank you also to the many individuals and businesses who supported the event by providing prizes. Our guest speakers were fascinating and entertaining and were a credit to both Shiplake and their sport. The proposed development is expected to cost up to £2m and this is the first step towards ensuring it is equipped with the first-class facilities required to provide a premier rowing programme as well as exceptional outdoor education, water sports, DofE, CCF and co-curricular activities. It will be so much more than a boathouse.”
Enormous thanks must go to caterers Thomas Franks, whose hard working team ensured a beautiful meal and a smooth service was enjoyed by all in attendance. Thanks must also go to Lea Lyle, Jim Wade and their colleagues from Jazz In Reading, who selected and performed a fantastic set-list during the reception drinks. They set the tone for the evening beautifully and it was a real pleasure to have them perform at the College.
