Many members of LRC will have been saddened by the news of Simon Porter's death on 3 February 2013, following a stroke, at the age of only 68. Our sincere condolences go to his widow Kay, and their family.
Simon had been a member of London Rowing Club since 1970, one of many to join on coming down from Oxford University at about that time. He learnt to row at Bryanston School in Dorset, for whom he made his first competitive appearance at Henley in 1961. From there he went to Keble College, Oxford for whom he also competed at Henley (with Chris Blackwall) in 1964. In 1966 he was in the Isis crew (which included Dan Topolski, David Thomson and Fred Carr) which lost to Harvard by 3/4 length in the final of the Thames Cup, after the no. 5 man in Isis collapsed at the 3/4 Mile. The following year Simon was rowing for Keble again, in the Ladies' Plate.
In recent years Simon was a regular member of the Masters crews organised by Robin Cameron-Cooper and, latterly, by Robin Hulf. He rowed at the Head of the Charles in 2008 and 2010. His last competitive race was in November 2012 when he sculled in the London crew which won the Masters G Quad Sculls at Teddington Small Boats Head.
Simon Porter (centre) enjoying some ‘winter training’.
Simon was a Solicitor, specialising in company law. For many years he worked with Robert Rakison, first in a US law firm Morgan Lewis, and later with Grundberg Mocatta Rakison, until Simon retired in 2009 although he remained a consultant with its successor law firm McGuire Woods. He was passionate about sailing, keeping a Contessa 32 yacht called 'Equator' on the Solent, in which he regularly competed. He was Clerk to the Governors at Latymer School, and Secretary to the Chiswick Christian 4 Community, a charity which supports young people in need, in the locality.
Last, but by no means least, Simon was the Club's Fire Safety Officer for the past 4-5 years. A thankless task, Simon was responsible for making LRC compliant with all the changing fire regulations.
Simon's funeral will be for family only, but a memorial service will be held on 25 April (see Social News section for details).
