MORE tributes were paid this week to Remenham rower Teddy Selwyn.
As the Standard reported last week, the founding member of the Barn Cottage Rowing Club died after a short illness. He was 87.
Daniel Grist, secretary of Henley Royal Regatta, said: “I and all the staff at regatta headquarters were saddened to hear the news that Teddy Selwyn had died.
“I first met Teddy and his late wife, Pam, almost 20 years ago, when I joined the regatta. I remember looking out of the headquarters most mornings and seeing him walking over the bridge wearing his bowler hat on his way to the station.
“In recent years he could only get about in his motorised buggy, which he drove from his home at Barn Cottage, across regatta land and out on to the A4130 at such speed that I often winced at another ‘near miss’.
“Teddy was uniquely placed to keep an eye on all things relating to the annual construction and dismantling of the regatta site and he was a great source of current gossip and historical background.
“I will miss his strident tones in the office at the end of a long regatta day and wonder just how he — and we — would have coped if we had accepted his kind offer to come in to assist with the administration!”
Robert Treharne-Jones, press officer at Leander Club, said: “The passing of Teddy Selwyn marks the loss of one of the great characters of Leander Club and the rowing scene in Henley.
“Teddy’s own rowing career went back to a bygone age of which only those few members of even greater vintage have personal experience.
“His own memory of recent events may have faded in recent years but his recollection of pre-war regattas, as well as events such as Jumbo Edwards’ double gold medals in one day at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, was still razor-sharp. Small wonder, then, that he was asked to contribute some of those memories to the promotional regatta DVD recording just a few years ago.
“For the last 10 years of his life Teddy was a regular member of the Lens Day Club, the convivial weekly luncheon gathering at Leander. He would make his way the short distance across Lion Meadow from his home at Barn Cottage, first on foot but latterly escorted in his wheelchair.
“Before their lunch last week, his fellow members stood in silence for a moment to mourn the passing of one of their number and a life well-served in the sport he loved.”
Life-long friend Susie Pragnell, of Shiplake, said: “A unique and much-loved character has left us. Teddy could be cantankerous, impatient and loud but he was also extremely kind-hearted, generous, funny and wonderfully hospitable.
“He had an amazing knowledge of local history and local people and was never at a loss to tell stories of his many past escapades. Those of us lucky enough to have known him are going to find the world a much duller place.
“My memories of Teddy go back to my childhood. Aged 17, he taught me to drive in his famous Morris Traveller. He was an excellent instructor and took great pride in his ‘honorary niece’, as he called me, passing her test at the first attempt.
“‘Happy memories, darling’ were the words he used as he reminisced with me just 10 days before he died.
“Two of those memories from the early days stand out. There was Teddy in his special constable’s uniform on point duty in the town on a Saturday morning, creating lengthy traffic jams as he chatted to friends as they tried to drive by.
“Then there was Teddy walking to the station each morning, complete with bowler hat and furled umbrella — the last of such gentlemen in Henley and the end of an era.
“I shall miss him enormously, we are all going to miss him. I am sure he will be telling Teddy stories somewhere. I will remember his smile with great fondness for many years to come.”
Geoffrey Horne, another friend, said: “I first met Teddy several years ago when we used to take Sunday lunch at Leander Club. Since we were both alone, we became friends. In recent years, I had the pleasure of accompanying Teddy to the weekly Lens Day lunches at the club.
“Teddy had many admirable qualities. Firstly, he was extremely affable and friendly. When I once mentioned to an acquaintance that I was a friend of Teddy’s, he replied, ‘Everyone is a friend of Teddy’s’. How true.
“Secondly, Teddy had strong willpower and bore his increasing infirmity with courage. He had a positive attitude to life and did not complain about his disabilities. When I used to ask him how he was feeling, he would simply say, ‘I’m under control’.I remember with great affection a fine character and a good friend. Rest in peace.”
Canadian journalist Gordon Cope and his wife Linda became friends with Mr Selwyn during a year they spent living in Henley.
He said: “When we arrived, we didn’t know a soul. Through a fortunate introduction, however, we met Teddy at his favourite haunt, Leander Club.
“Thanks to his generosity of spirit, we soon knew half the town. We have since returned to Calgary but among our favourite memories of Henley are the times we spent in Teddy’s company at various pubs around town and, of course, at the royal regatta.
“His knowledge of Henley, his sense of humour and his warm heart will always remain with us.”
Susie Chavasse, Teddy’s former daughter-in-law, said: “Teddy always encouraged my children’s sporting activities and came to horse shows, rugby matches and regattas. When my children were little he would always hire a Father Christmas outfit for Christmas Day.
“He has been more than a father-in-law to me and a fabulous grandpa to both of my children, Charlie and Georgina. We are going to miss him terribly and will always treasure the lovely times we all had with him.
“It was so sad when he lost his mobility but we still managed to have fun. He never complained. He never missed the Henley Royal Regatta or a Lens Day lunch at Leander Club.”
She added: “I would also like to thank Peter and Pat Sly, Geoffrey Horne and William Shine for all their support as well as Tony and Pat at the Flower Pot pub in Aston for delivering delicious lunches to him. Many and grateful thanks to everybody at Townlands Hospital for making his last few weeks as comfortable as possible, surrounded by their love.”
Published on 30 November 2009
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