For St. Catherine's any moroseness about Norrington was set aside and the College could near the end of the academic year with a very visible aspect of its future in good order. The week's performances from our rowers provided great spectating, with occasionally electrifying speed and tactics - for it was, after all, the last Eights Week in this century, in this millennium.
The wet-bobs - boaties one says today - were determined to have a unique St. Catherine's occasion. The Dean, Michael Spence rowed; at the Alumni Buffet Supper in Hall after the races those present included the whole of the Boat Club and the crews of fifty years ago, some coming from the USA and South Africa, not only for that reunion but to take part on the following day, in the first Long Bridges House Regatta.
The speech at the Buffet Supper was given by the Secretary for Alumni, Professor Ceri Peach, and raised rousing cheers when he announced that Lord Plant's successor had been appointed and when he spoke of the prowess of the current Boat Club and of fifty years ago.
The highlight of the House Regatta on the Sunday was undoubtedly the boating of fourteen members of the Boat Club of 1949. Members of the present Boat Club took the boats from the racks, attended the two crews - an eight and a four - at the raft and returned the boats after the outings, from the water to the racks. The '49ers were astonished at such thoughtfulness, being very prepared to do everything they had done, so long ago.
But there was no nostalgia in the progress on the water, taken in spells from the boathouse to Folly Bridge and back. The cox of the Eight had probably forgotten how to count since he announced proudly at one point that the `rate of striking had reached 31'. On land, he had looked with disbelief at a life-jacket, microphone and Cox-Box as had some of the oarsmen at the white plastic boats and carbon black-loomed oars. The '49ers were, after all, from an era of brass, copper, varnished wood, leather and grease - things that, among other attributes, smelled.
And then it was off the water seeing the members of the Boat Club trying their hands at paddling Sandy Nairne's hundred year old Hobbs punt - dongolling - and Richard Norton and the City Bargees moving Thames traditional boats, a sandalo and other Venetian craft. St. Hilda's boated an VIII, and Templeton opened their clubroom as did Hertford.
The Regatta buffet lunch in St. Catherine's clubroom was, in a sense, reminiscent of teas on the `Barge', with oarsmen's ladies providing coffee and tea as crews came from the water - and wine, orange juice and fizz water at lunch. The cold tables groaned with the wonderful commons that only Peter Eleveld's staff can provide.
Ceri Peach came down, as did another Secretary for Alumni, the Bursar of 1950, Wilfrid Knapp, whom many of the 49ers knew; and Margaret Simon, Development and Alumni Relations Officer. Graham Kaye, the 1949 coxswain and organiser of the reunion touched exactly the right note as he thanked the Captains of Boats for what they had done for his crews. Ben Sylvester Jr, whose donation to the funding with City Barge of the yet-to-be-built workshop for the boathouse was a main reason for the reunion, spoke of his hopes and aspirations for its use and said that he would undoubtedly be back to see it materialise.
So a very happy event drew to its close, with those having a part in it knowing that nothing is ever a first, nor a conclusion. The '49ers had had one reunion in 1974, twenty five years on from their victories. Elation is a life-enhancing thing: the changing room in 1999 had buzzed with the prospect of a diamond occasion, having reached their 50th. Most, in 2009, will be eighty; but that will be no problem for them.
Tony Hancox
President, St. Catherine's Rowing Society