Compiled by Wendy Goodier with significant contributions from Ian Blyth.


To view each section, click on the section to open the pdf, right click on the >> and select presentation mode.

In October 2017 Mr Peter Blaseby, an RGS parent, a coach at the club in the 2000s and member of Marlow Rowing Club, suggested this history of the club should be written. This project was approved by Mr Philip Wayne, Headmaster of the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe.

Dr Wendy Goodier, Club Manager and Mr Ian Blyth, RGS Master and Head Coach for many years sourced and wrote significant parts of the text. Mr Peter Blaseby sourced memories from Old Wycombiensians.

Thanks, must go to the School Librarian who enabled access to the School Archives. Thanks to every boy and master who put pen to paper for the Wycombiensian and noted names and races which provided direction for the research; also to parents who photographed their lads.

Thanks to David Biddulph for his race pages from 1997 and the Wayback Machine for enabling access to many long dead web pages. Use of the online Newspaper Archive via FindMyPast helped with corroboration of results.

**Style and editing decisions** 

The style of the history changes over time. Early reports are harder to find and to corroborate, they were however written at the time and are of the time. As time progresses original source materials such as email, twitter and photographs are still available and tell their own story, less needs to be said and more can be understood by reading the original documents. We could have trimmed and removed less successful events and crews, but if that was your memory then editing it out is unfair.

Consideration has been given to the use of names, the history will no doubt remain amongst the school community. The value in the history is to describe the ebb and flow of the successes of the club, using of just a first name could be ambiguous as could simply surnames so the decision was made to include full names when known. Much of this information is publicly available as indicated by references to websites and the school twitter feed. If any boy would like to be removed from the history, please email and we will do this as far as possible. As far as possible sources are referenced.

**Reflection**

History does repeat itself for RGS Boat Club,
there are ups and downs in the success of the club. Some successes are fortuitous and some the result of hard work by the boys and coaches. The
Friends of Rowing refreshes every few years but without institutional knowledge there must be a re-invention of the club and a new focus on fundraising. With the luxury of hindsight, a fresh intake of boys and dedicated parents, a change in coaching personnel or style rejuvenates the club. What flows through this history is a high degree of dedication and passion by the coaches, boys, and parents and when that comes together success follows. Success doesn’t have to be winning but is often simply creating a camaraderie and pride amongst all involved creates memories for everyone which bring a smile to faces and a sense of belonging; long may that continue to be a primary ethos of rowing at the RGS .

RGS Rowing History

History of Rowing at RGS High Wycombe from 1955

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