Martin Gaylard, who died on 25th March at the age of 77, was a member of London Rowing Club for over 50 years, and was first and foremost a sculler. He had the unique distinction of having competed in almost every Scullers’ Head since it was founded in 1954, from 1965 onwards under London colours. He was in the top echelon of British scullers in the 1958-60 period, but was still winning pennants at Masters level until a year or two ago. His quiet, gentle and thoughtful demeanour, which won him many friends at the Club, hid a steely resolve to continue to compete and retain his fitness right up to and including Masters level.
Martin learnt his rowing at Latymer and then proceeded to a degree and postgraduate qualifications at Imperial College BC, before pursuing a lifetime career as a lecturer in engineering. An early influence on the river was Alan Watson, as was Chas Newens’ father, and he took up sculling in 1955 at the age of 19. Martin much admired Tony Fox’s sculling technique; he was also inspired by Steve Fairbairn’s famous poem, “listen for the bubbles” being one of his favourite catchphrases. Martin’s best years were 1958 to 1960. He had the race of his life in the Diamonds in 1958, losing by only ¾ length to Ivanov (the Olympic champion). He won the London Cup at the Met twice (one of the ‘triple crown’ events), and competed three times in the Wingfields (a championship that London dominated for some 15 years after WWII). His best result in the Scullers’ Head was 4th in 1960. An opportunity for challenging the Diamonds the same year was thwarted when IC unfortunately failed to put their entries in for the regatta in time. Martin also trialled for the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960, only to be beaten by Sid Rand in the final. He was also a founder member of the Tideway Scullers’ School in 1958.
All this was under IC colours, but he then joined London in 1962 and he represented the Club in the Double Sculls with Peter Hilditch in 1965. He competed successfully in sculling events at regattas up and down the country. He also enjoyed jumping into HORR crews - see illustration below when his crew won the Veteran C pennant in 1979 with Peter at stroke, Martin at 7, and Doug Melvin at 6.
But Martin was always drawn back to his sculling. Asked for his advice in racing, he would say whimsically “if opportunity offers, smile at your opponent”. Our former Chief Coach, Paul Reedy, remembers numerous conversations with Martin outside Bay 2 about his training sessions and ideas to improve his performance on the water, and in particular his “confident and lilting” style of sculling (emulating Tony Fox, no doubt). Doug Melvin remembers Martin as a “true gentleman”.
There were plenty of London ties at Martin’s funeral on 7th April in Amersham, on a day when the flag flew at half mast at the clubhouse in his memory. We send our condolences to Elsbeth, Alexei (a member himself for the last 30 years) and his younger brother Oliver, and their families.
