Bob Potter, who died suddenly on 30 October 2013 in Bewdley, aged 78, rowed briefly for London Rowing Club in the early-mid 1960s, but despite also trying his luck at Molesey and the ARA’s Nautilus squad, remained a loyal member of LRC for over 50 years. He was a very keen sculler all his life and was to be seen out in his Carl Douglas single until just a few weeks ago, having hoovered up numerous veterans’ pennants and awards over the years. Rowing, sculling and coaching were very much his life and counterbalanced a busy academic career which took him ultimately to a professorship of furniture design at the University of Central England in Birmingham. This was all the more remarkable for the moderate to severe deafness he was born with, but he was so driven that the disability seemed a mild inconvenience to everything he did.
A bow side oar, Bob joined London in 1961 from Auriol and rowed at 3 in the Thames Cup in the following year, his crew just failing to reach the semi-final by a canvas in one of the best performances for the Club in the beginnings of its resurgence after World War II. He then progressed to the Grand crew in 1963, before trying his hand with Molesey in 1964. It was at this point that the ARA inaugurated the London arm of their national squad, Nautilus Club, to which Tideway and upriver clubs were invited to send candidates. Bob was one of those selected, and joined a number of London men in the process. The Nautilus crews enjoyed top coaching from Jumbo Edwards, our Vice-President Doug Melvin, Geoffrey Page and others, and 1965 showed much promise with Bob gaining a bow side thwart in the Grand crew. Already in his late 20s, though, it was time for Bob’s career in furniture design to take over and he moved away from the capital.
One of Bob’s eccentricities was to be a member of numerous rowing clubs at one time, and for his wedding near Hull (he married the girl next door from his childhood) he had an arch of blades from 9 separate clubs, including London. In more recent years he had come down from his home in Shropshire to attend the 6s & 7s Club dinners.
We send our condolences to Kay and his family.
