CHAIRMAN’S VIEW

In ordinary circumstances this edition of The London Roar would be celebrating a busy month of racing and events at the Club. Sadly we find ourselves with the Boathouse closed and, it seems, our lives put on hold as the world tackles the Coronavirus pandemic. The last event to be held at the Club, on Sunday 15th March, was the lightweight Boat Races; only three weeks ago. London hosted both clubs and their supporters who watched the two races unfold thanks to the generosity of one of our members whose company Interactive Investor sponsored the live coverage of the event. Stuart Forbes was on hand to present the prizes to the winning crews. We have lost far too many races this year to the weather, floods or COVID-19. The lighter evenings and warm spring weather are reminders that the regatta season should be just around the corner.

In these difficult times we have seen London pull together to provide support to members, friends and the wider community who are vulnerable or suffering through self-isolation or with COVID-19. Thanks to the efforts of James Brooks, Stewart Harries, Gregor Maxwell, Harry Smallman, Charlie Haynes, Bob Silver, Eddie Markes, Jessica Salter, JP van Tiel and other volunteers, we have developed a network of support for those in need. The team will also be contacting older members of the Club to check on their situation. Further information can be seen in the article by James below. Please do not hesitate to make contact with the team if there is anything that they may be able to do to help you or others you know.

There will be a financial impact to the Club through this period with the loss of events revenue. A small group from the committee has been working to ensure that this is minimised. We are making use of the furlough provisions for our staff and cutting costs where possible. We are doing what we can to support our staff and to ensure that our Club is in the strongest possible position to emerge from this crisis fit, healthy and ready to row. Your support and forbearance through this period is very much appreciated.

In more positive news, we are continuing to implement the new governance approach that your committee approved in December. As a reminder, a key aspect of this approach is the implementation of a standing sub-committee structure to develop expert and dedicated teams in key areas. These sub-committees cover Membership, Finance & Administration, Rowing, Property, Events/Commercial and Strategy & Planning. I am pleased to report that all of these sub-committees are now up and running in some form and the early signs of their engagement with respective areas are promising. We have a number of challenges and opportunities to address through this structure and I am confident that we will do so in a much better way through this approach. This should progressively reflect in the way that LRC operates and the standards which we achieve both on and off the water. One of the great attributes of LRC is the breadth of professional experience and competence across our membership. We will continue to welcome engagement from those willing and able to assist in the running of our club.

Simon Harris
Chairman, London Rowing Club

ONE DEGREE OF ROWING

One Degree of Rowing is our Club’s attempt to support our community and all our members and friends in this difficult time. As the Chairman mentioned when it was launched, we are one club and if people need support please let us know early and we will respond.

Since being launched on Monday 30th March we have over 60 volunteers. The response of the people we have supported in this period has been amazing.

One special activity we have undertaken is packing PPE equipment for frontline NHS staff. More details on how to help can be found here. We need your support.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-IyDoBTq7lhVq765W0v3bLRBofPBOn3Rvit_0wlxAtQ/edit?usp=sharing

Contact on email: onedegreeofrowing@londonrc.org.uk or see the LRC website for details.

Helping each other is how we make London stronger.

Bang the drum!

James Brooks

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

See more detail for these events, visit our Calendar of Events…

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE RESIS

A core group of us are still living at London Rowing Club in the residents’ accommodation during the lockdown period. We are all grateful to be able to continue living at the club and are taking good care of the facilities.

With a table tennis table installed in the Club Room, we are enjoying daily table tennis tournaments which are becoming more intense as the days go by!

The Long Room has been transformed into our ‘work from home’ space with ground coffee deliveries being made every couple of days to make the morning break more exciting whilst also supporting local businesses.

We are making an effort to go outside individually every day to either run, walk or cycle around our local area. Group circuits have also become a daily highlight to get the endorphins going.

Fortunately, we are all in good health and looking forward to doing our best to help out with the One Degree of Rowing initiative.

Stay safe and stay at home!!

Heather Scott
Squad Cox (one of) in Resis

IRREGULARS’ REPORT

As we all know, the club is closed to all but those who live there and therefore we must busy ourselves with other nefarious pastimes.

In a slightly mischievous vein, sources (undisclosed) have let it be known that 2 Irregular gentlemen attempted to go sculling recently - one can only ‘presume’ that they believed that permission to scull only was still allowed. I believe they were politely put right before going afloat! The listening tentacles of the club spread far and wide!

The joke/video emails amongst the group have made a comeback - suffered by some, ignored by most and enjoyed by others. Still, we’re keeping in touch!!

On the rowing related front, there has been an email debate about the different merits of rowing machines and I believe it has resulted in some sales or rentals. That’s a result! Jason Danciger and Rory O’Sullivan have recently completed their millionth kilometre and lots of members have sworn to keep their levels of fitness up to pre-Heads levels. We shall see.

Finally, lots of Irregulars have volunteered to take part in the club outreach initiative programme. This is really good and we have every reason to believe that the club and wider community will benefit greatly from this initiative. Well done all, stay well and look forward to when we meet again!

Eddie Markes

Stop Press: Freddie Young has become a father to a baby girl called Isabella Elizabeth born 23rd March - mother and baby doing well. Well done Freddie and Liz!

CASAMAJOR CLUB REVIVAL

The lottery Club (named after one of LRC's founders and a sterling oarsman, Alexander Alcée Casamajor) is for the benefit of our rowing equipment and it has been quiet for a while. We are now reviving it and for just £5/month you too can be a winner!

Unique ties and scarves are being ordered which subscribers to the Casamajor Club will be able to buy and wear with pride.

Now that we're up to date, here is the new plan for the Club - Casamajor 2.0, if you like:

You'll never be able to retire on your Casamajor haul - we want to have a bit of fun, maybe the winner could buy a round or two with their pot and have bragging rights for a week or so.
That said, depending on the participation, the number of annual grand prizes of £600 could be quite substantial and there will be regular quarterly draws for £75 prizes. We want to pay out around 50% of the income, so the more of you that are in, the grander the prizes!
The new monthly payment is just £5 - if you're clever with maths you'll know that is £60/year. Just click here to open a short Direct Debit form to complete online. Our service, GoCardless, will email you every month just before it takes the fiver from your account.
If you are a current Casamajor member paying with a Standing Order and want to change, please cancel that and set up a new £5 Direct Debit.

So, here's to Casamajor 2.0! Are you with me?

Cheers.

John Auber
Treasurer, Casamajor Club

https://pay.gocardless.com/AL0002R9Y4C4S8

CLUB SURVEY

Reminder for anyone who hasn't completed the survey yet: Please can you give the 10 minutes required to complete this simple online LRC Members Survey to help the club!

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TL6YS7Y

Receiving feedback from the membership on how happy they are as members, what they think works well and how we can improve is really important. The Club wants to improve its offering as quickly as possible, and direct our efforts in the direction the whole membership wishes to prioritise.

James Brooks
LRC Membership Sub-committee

VIRTUAL WINE TASTING

Our resident Master of Wine, Tim Jackson, will be hosting a virtual wine tasting event spread over two sessions beginning at the end of this month.

The event will take place on Zoom and/or Facebook Live, depending on virtual turnout.

We will be exploring six new wines – three from Italy, three from Spain – for potential inclusion on the LRC wine list.

To take part in the event, please transfer £85 to LRC (to cover cost of all wine and delivery) and email events@londonrc.org.uk with your name, mobile number, and delivery address.

Deliveries are limited to UK addresses.

You will then receive six bottles of wine direct from our supplier, Liberty Wines.

On Friday, 24th April, at 7:30pm, we will taste the Italian wines:

Soave Classico Foscarino (white)
Mandrarossa Nero d’Avola Sicily (red)
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico (red)

On Friday 1st May, at 7:30, we will taste the Spanish wines

Albarino Rias Baixas (white)
Mimetic Calatayud Garnacha (red)
LAN Rioja Crianza (red)

We ask that all ‘bookings’ are in no later than 17 April to ensure timely delivery of wines.

We will endeavour to pass in advance both tasting notes and food pairings to those taking part.

Should you have any questions, please contact events@londonrc.org.uk.

Shane Dorsett
General Manager, London Rowing Club

SILVER LINING FOR LA SERENISSIMA

This year's contingent for the Vogalonga was, I believe, a record number for LRC - twenty-five participants and fifteen supporters, making a total of forty enthusiastic partakers in this wondrous event.

Like every other rowing event at the moment, it was not to be. The hope is that next year - the 23rd May 2021 - the event will be on again and the LRC contingent will be at least as big again.

In the meantime, Venice has seen crystal clear water in its canals and dolphins and swans swimming where no-one has seen them before. There is a silver lining!

Miles Preston

PHOTO COMPETITION: CALL FOR ENTRIES

We have decided to hold an informal photographic competition.

There will be no prizes but we invite you to submit one photograph that you have taken at any time, whether recently or many years ago, with rowing as its theme. This can be of crews training or racing, post-race partying, balmy days spent at Henley or whatever.

If you want to add a caption to your photo, feel free to do so.

Please will you email your photo to me (Miles.Preston@londonrc.org.uk) by midnight on Thursday, the 30th April.

We will include the best photos we receive in the May edition of The London Roar.

Until then, best wishes to you all,

Miles Preston
Editor, The London Roar

EASTER 2020

A very Happy Easter to you and your family from me and my trusty assistant, Jessica Salter.

This must go down as the strangest Easter weekend in our lives. We must enjoy it as much as possible - albeit at home and, in all probability, remotely from most, if not all, of our family members.

If you have time to propose a toast today, why not try my family's toast which is 'AFAR!' - to Absent Family and Relatives!

Miles Preston
Editor, The London Roar

REPORTING SAFETY INCIDENTS

All members are reminded that if you are involved in or witness a water safety incident, you are required to report it on safety@londonrc.org.uk

The Club will file any necessary reports on your behalf with British Rowing and the PLA. Members should not submit reports directly to either body.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition of the London Roar. If you have an idea for an article or would be interested in submitting a piece for inclusion in a future edition, please email me on miles.preston@londonrc.org.uk

Please do not submit an article without first liaising with me.

Miles Preston
Editor of The London Roar