Our Heroes

POURING rain failed to dampen the spirits of celebrations to honour the return of Henley’s Olympic and Paralympic rowers.

Hundreds of people huddled under umbrellas as they cheered the Team GB athletes as they paraded through the town centre on an open-top bus on Saturday.

Roads were temporarily closed to traffic as the beige double-decker made its way slowly from Leander Club, over Henley Bridge and through the streets to the town hall.

Supporters of all ages cheered and some waved Union flags and took pictures on their phones as the bus passed them, before walking behind and alongside it.

There were 28 rowers on board from the Paris Games and they laughed and joked and took pictures and selfies and while on the top deck.

Among them were medal winners Rory Gibbs, of Greys Road, who won gold in the men’s eights, and coxswain Erin Kennedy, of Station Road, who was a Paralympic champion.

At the town hall, the athletes hopped off the bus and there were speeches on the steps from Mayor Rory Hunt and Leander captain Lola Anderson.

They then spent about 45 minutes chatting with well-wishers, posing for pictures, and signing autographs on merchandise and newspapers before returning to Leander for a private party.

The rowers described the Games in Paris as a more positive experience than Tokyo in 2021, which had been delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and were able to enjoy the experience more this time around.

Leander rowers returned home with three golds, two silvers and three bronzes, making 21 medallists and bringing the club’s total of Olympic medals to 159.

The result was Team GB’s most successful since London 2012 and they were only pipped to the top spot in the rowing medals table by the Netherlands.

The Paralympians won four more medals, three gold medals and one silver medal.

The day of celebration began with a ceremonial row-past with the athletes wearing their navy Team GB unitards.

The rowers were encouraged into the boats by applause and the waving of paper union jack flags by friends, family and spectators who gathered at the Leander Club, along the towpath and on Henley Bridge.

They left the Leander pontoon at 9.30am and rowed from outside Phyllis Court before turning around and rowing under the bridge and upstream towards Rod Eyot Island and back to the club, completing the loop twice.

The first boat to take to the water was the women’s double scull with Becky Wilde and Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne, who won bronze in Paris.

The second boat was the women’s eight, which also won bronze, and coxed by Henry Fieldman, who became the first person to win medals in both men’s and women’s events.

The boat comprised Annie Campbell Orde, Hattie Taylor, Holly Dunford, Emily Ford, Lauren Irwin, Eve Stewart, Chloe Brew and Frankie Allen, who won gold in the Paralympic mixed coxed four.

The third boat was a women’s pair and comprised Rebecca Edwards and also Esme Booth, who won silver in the coxless four.

The fourth boat, a men’s coxless four, won bronze in Paris and included Freddie Davidson, Matt Aldridge, Oli Wilkes and Tom Barras.

The final boat was the men’s eight, a mix of gold medal-winning rowers from Paris and the 2000 Sydney Games.

This included current champions James Rudkin, Tom Digby, Jacob Dawson, Morgan Bolding and Rory Gibbs and the champions from Sydney, Ben Hunt-Davis, Fred Scarlett and Steve Trapmore, who is a high-performance coach with Team GB’s Olympic rowing programme.

The exhibition “races” were watched by residents who took to the river on their own motorised and paddle boats.

Back on dry land, the athletes caught up with visitors family and friends in and around the boat shed after they got changed into their Team GB coral-coloured zip-up tracksuit top and navy bottoms. They were also handed Leander umbrellas before the open-top bus parade.

Anderson, who won gold in the women’s quadruple sculls with Hannah Scott, Georgie Brayshaw and Lauren Henry, said that since winning, life had been a “massive whirlwind”.

She said: “What’s so lovely about coming back to celebrate in a town and community like this is that while it’s a little bit nerve-racking standing up in front of all these people, you can recognise so many faces and you feel like you know everybody, so it’s not that scary.

“Since Paris, it just feels like it hasn’t stopped. From when we were so focused and so internal before starting the race, that when you allow yourself to open up your mind and start enjoying the fact and processing the fact that you’re at the Olympics and that it’s not just a race, that when you’re celebrating that with your friends and your teammates afterwards, everything just flies by so quickly, it’s hard to process.

“Now that we’ve come here together and our quad achieved what we wanted, there’s nothing really more to do now than celebrate and take that in. Yes, if we’re coming back to rowing, we need to put that down and we will come back to training in the right mindset but for right now it has been the most epic celebration.

“I’ve been out with friends, catching up with family and I went away to Sicily for a little bit and just laid on a beach and switched off. There have been a fair few parties but stuff like this today are the main parties, because we’re excited to just be with each other, because Paris happened like that and we haven’t had the proper opportunity like this with everyone in one room, to really have fun together.”

Comparing other athletes’ experience in Paris to the delayed Tokyo 2021 games, dubbed the covid games, Anderson said the crews felt really supported.

“It was a completely different game”, she said. “Even though they were Olympians, they didn’t get the experience in the same way they have now, having been to Paris. There were no crowds, there was no media, and they came back and had a lovely reception, but in terms of game experience, the overall impression is that they felt a little isolated.

“But the good thing about it being in France is that family and friends could come out and everyone could be watching it just live on TV at home, so everyone has felt the support.

“Being back here now I wasn’t expecting to see people on Henley Bridge and lining the banks, so this is a really lovely turnout. Just seeing the young kids that have come out, whether it’s the first Olympic games they’ve watched, they feel closer to it, and it has been really sweet to just chat to them and gauge their experience.”

Kennedy, 32, extended her 14-year unbeaten record by winning gold, coming off the back of being given the all-clear of cancer in March last year after undergoing 15 chemotherapy sessions and a double mastectomy.

Her husband Sam, 33, an army captain joined her at the parade. He said: “Everyone you bump into wants to celebrate and it’s just really exciting and so special. It’s a strange one because you work so hard to get out to the Games and everything is working towards that but with everything that she’s been through it’s fantastic to have her back. Genuinely, I couldn’t be prouder of the way that she’s tackled it all.

“I think having a sport and something to aim towards was such a motivator for her, so everything she did and worked towards was to get on the start line in Paris.

“Going out and competing at the European Championships after being diagnosed was a real step to showing that she could do it when she was ill. It was quite hard when she was on weekly chemotherapy, but once she finished and had the surgery she was so determined.

“Erin would say ‘It’s so important to get out and exercise’ because the chances of it recurring in five years after being given all clear are drastically reduced if you exercise, so I think that was a real motivator for her.

“Having the oncology team in Paris was so special. They were the real MVPs if you like. They were amazing and I think for them as well, it’s been a really tough couple of years of looking after people who are of Erin’s age and having treatment and passed away. So, to be able to come out and not only celebrate Erin but celebrate what they do was incredible. Erin was only out there entirely because of them.

“I think for the athletes as well, these games have been really special for them because they got to stay out there afterwards and celebrate by going to other sports. Whereas, in Tokyo, they had to leave within 24 hours of competing.”

Phil Poynter, who is the head of rowing at the Oratory School in Woodcote, brought his sons Rupert, seven, and Alex, 11 to the parade. He said Alex had been inspired after the family had been in Paris watching the women’s quad win gold.

He said: “Alex did his first indoor rowing session on Friday, and he’s just held the Olympic gold medal, so the pathway is set. We went to Paris, and we watched the girls in the quad win, which was a very exciting race, right down to the line.

“We had a Dutch family in front of us who were convinced they had it until the last stroke when Britain did their thing, and it was amazing. We met Lola, who was in the quad, and she was fantastic, she told us all about the race and the last 300 metres and they didn’t really know if they got it or not.”

Louise Wynne-Griffith, 64, came to support her son Ollie who won silver in the men’s coxless pair in Paris and bronze in the men’s eight at the delayed Tokyo games in 2021.

She said: “We were blown away and so proud, it was the race of their lives. We went to Paris and it’s lovely to have the opportunity to be here and still continue celebrating. It has been incredible; it has meant the world to all of us and him, and I don’t even think he realised that until it happened.

“We’re really happy to be here, we’ve met up with lots of parents that we spent lots of time with by the riverbanks over the years, so I hope we get the chance to keep celebrating again but it’s a big decision to go for another cycle again. We’re happy whatever he will do, and we will enjoy the ride.”

Once the athletes got on board the bus, it made its way up over the bridge, up Hart Street and then along Bell Street, New Street and Thames Side and back up Hart Street to the town hall.

It was by the Wokingham Brass Band which played Take Me Home, Country Roads and others while spectators followed behind.

As the bus turned right onto the Henley Bridge, spectators lined either side, applauding and singing along to the sound of the band. The bus then crossed over the bridge onto Hart Street where the delighted crowds had turned out in droves to congratulate the team.

The delighted crowds’ spirits were not dampened, roaring in excitement as the athletes approached Hart Street. Athletes on the top deck threw Leander’s pink hippo teddy mascots down to fans, as they pulled out their phones to take pictures as the procession passed. Some had brought homemade signs with the names of their favourite rowers on.

Residents looked out from the top floor windows of their shops and houses, with one throwing cookies at the athletes to enjoy.

Councillor David Eggleton handed out chocolate medals to children who wore them around their necks while some opened them up to eat right away.

The bus turned right into Bell Street, as it approached the Market Place, where more people waited on the streets and on their doorsteps to watch the celebrating parade.

As the bus approached the town hall, members of local rowing clubs held up oars, forming an archway, as the crowds waited in anticipation, singing along to the band’s rendition of Sweet Caroline, before the emergence of the athletes.

When the athletes emerged, the crowd erupted, cheering, whistling and bellowing, as they posed for a short photo opportunity outside the hall.

Recreational rower at Henley Rowing Club, Laura Johnson of Emmer Green, was one of the oar holders who stood outside of the town hall.

The 57-year-old said: “I learnt to row in 2018, and I have been at the club ever since. My daughter Grace Johnson also rows there won at Henley Royal Regatta this year.

“When she finished and went on to university, I just saw an opportunity to have a go and see if I could do it. It’s the most amazing sport, it’s really good for your all-round fitness and they’re really welcoming and work really hard.

“I feel completely inspired today, it’s an amazing opportunity to watch these Olympians who put so much into it and when you know how hard it is, having done it yourself, I think it gives you a better appreciation for what it means to them and we can celebrate the moment with them as well.”

Harry Catlin, 16, from Henley, is a rower at Leander Club and was also holding an oar for the athletes. He said that watching so many athletes that he has often seen training at the club bring home so many medals was inspiring.

He said: “It’s really cool because we see a lot of these guys training in the gym as well, so it’s quite cool to see them have a lot of success as well. It makes us want to work a lot harder to see what the results are from the hard work.”

Town crier David Wilson rang out a bell and introduced Councillor Hunt who addressed the crowd.

He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to all of our Olympic and Paralympians. It has been an extraordinary achievement for our athletes this year. We sent 26 athletes over from here, 21 of them have come back with medals. We are probably the most successful Olympic town in the world.

“It’s quite extraordinary how much training they all do. Four years of their lives and it comes down to a six-minute race and by God how well they all did. It is quite remarkable what they have achieved and what their coaches have achieved and thank you to the community of Henley for supporting them in getting there.

“It is a bit of a shame that the British weather let us down today but I’m sure that they’re all quite used to being a bit wetter, otherwise they wouldn’t get any training done in the winter if they weren’t.”

Cllr Hunt was followed by Anderson, who thanked everyone for coming out and braving the weather.

She said: “Thank you all today for coming out and joining us despite the weather. It’s amazing to see just how many people have come out to celebrate with us. A lot of familiar faces out here, our friends, our families, coaches, all of which, we wouldn’t have these results without. A huge congratulations to them as well because these results belong just as much to them as they do to us.

“We had long journeys, some of us longer than others depending on how long we’ve been in the time and how many Olympics we’ve been a part of. It’s been an amazing summer to come back, feel the support and see the support, so thank you so much for making our summers even more special.”

Athletes were then able to greet the crowds, who had been waiting undeterred by the worsening weather. They signed newspaper clippings and clothing for fans as they waded through the sea of people.

They all posed for photos and handed their medals to children who got a chance to wear the medals around their necks.

Recreational rowers James and Emma Padmore brought their children Georgie, five, Harry, three, and Andy, one. The couple said that they met through rowing, “many years ago” when they rowed at Leander, Upper Thames Rowing Club, and Henley Rowing Club, where they still row socially.

Mr Padmore made up one of the Henley club’s men’s four that competed for the Wyfold Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in July. Even though it was raining they said they didn’t want to miss the opportunity to celebrate with the local heroes.

He said: “It was a shame about the weather, but we really enjoyed the parade. We watched them row past this morning as well. It’s always worth it because they’ve worked so hard so it’s great to celebrate with them.”

Lady Judy McAlpine, of Fawley Hill, attended the celebrations for the first time. She was supporting her friend’s niece, Rebecca Wilde, who won bronze in the women’s double sculls.

She said: “I’m most looking forward to seeing Becky of course. She’s spent most of the last four years living with us, so we feel a bit proprietorial about that, it’s my first time but I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Becky, but I think it’s nice that the town is so supportive.”

Ms Wilde’s auntie, Dilys Wilde, 61, a therapist from Fawley, said: “It’s fantastic and it’s really gruelling to be an athlete. It was just an amazing Olympics, they did really well, but this lot, the Team GB rowing did incredibly well, so good on them. It’s a very proud moment and a really special time, not many people get to achieve these things so it’s really lovely.”

Claire Booth and Alan Nash had travelled from their home at Stratford-upon-Avon to join their daughter Esme Booth, who began her rowing career at Stratford-upon-Avon boat club but later joined Leander after studying at Oxford Brookes University.

She made history with fellow Leander rower Emily Ford to be the first British woman to qualify two boats at the same regatta after qualifying in the women’s eight as well as the coxless pair at the World Rowing Championships last year.

She won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in the women’s four with Helen Glover, Sam Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten.

Ms Booth said that the weather hadn’t spoiled the occasion and didn’t stop them from marching after the bus through the Henley town centre.

She said: “We watched the bus go out and then followed them up to the town hall and it was just beautiful. The rain was just to be expected.

“This, today, is good for them because they get a chance to meet up and catch up. We only get such short notice really of what’s coming next, so after this we’ll be going home but I think there’s probably more to come.”