Parent power propels row for primary playground

A GROUP of parents and a teacher from a Henley school completed a 22-mile row to raise money for a new playground.

They completed the challenge on Saturday in less than eight hours, passing through six locks along the Thames between Goring and Henley.

Along the route, the rowers took breaks and changed positions as well as swapping in and out of the boats.

They have raised £5,200 so far but are hopeful of reaching their target of £8,000 towards the cost of replacing the playground at Sacred Heart Primary School in Grey Hill as it has holes and aged equipment.

The men and women were split into two boats, each with a team of four rowers and cox.

They were supported by organiser and Henley Rowing Club coach Jeff Ellison, 62, whose daughter Poppy, six, is a pupil, and Dan Galbraith, who were both in a boat carrying medical supplies and water.

The rowers all wore red shirts designed by Mr Ellison’s wife Rachel, who also rowed.

The boats left Goring Rowing Cub at 8.50am and reached Henley Rowing Club just before 4pm. Mr Ellison said: “It could not have been better. The day was beautiful with perfect temperatures — not too hot, not too cold — and the row was downstream, which meant we made good progress.

“There was very limited boat traffic for such a beautiful day, which helped. The scenery at Goring Gap was really second to none.

“We stopped at The Oratory School boathouse, Reading Rowing Club and Sonning to eat snacks and switch some of the crew.

“We always had 10 rowers on the water at a time and eight completed the full distance.” The rowers celebrated at the finish. Mr Ellison said: “We had a group of family and friends with some champagne waiting for us, celebrated and then put our equipment away before having a nice early night.

“We have raised £5,200 but the pledges are still coming in so I think we are going to make it. We are very pleased.”

Aoife McPhillips, of St Mark’s Road, whose son, Max, 11, attends the school, said: “I rowed two thirds and coxed one third.

“I had never rowed before but had always wanted to try. I loved it and would love to keep going. It was hard but we were in it together and Jeff was encouraging us all the way. Giving up never crossed my mind. I felt so uplifted all day with such a positive group.

“The best part is being able to give something back to our school community while also getting some expert coaching in rowing.

“The four training sessions we did really set me up to pursue it more.”

The other rowers were Hayley Alvey, Jo Anderson, Julieta Blanes, Suzanne Brass, Rachel Ellison, Jeff Ellison, Diana Forbes, Ben Forbes, Jade Gower, Ali Jean-Jean, Lucy Jean-Jean, Petro Kriachko, Ada Mercade, Kylie Smith and Alexandra Stafferton.