Chris Bushnell, former captain of Henley Rowing Club

A FORMER rower, captain and coach of Henley Rowing Club has died, aged 69.

Chris Bushnell learned to row at Putney Town Rowing Club before joining Henley in 1974.

He was a member of a Henley eight which reached the final of the Thames Cup at the 1976 Henley Royal Regatta. The crew lost to Harvard University by a canvas in the final but in an earlier heat had broken the course record.  

Also in 1976, Mr Bushnell was a member of the crew that came sixth in the Head of the River race, still the highest position ever achieved by the club. His spirit and determination always shone through when, having broken his wrist in training, he continued to attend every training session and pushed himself in order to keep his place in the boat.

Mr Bushnell served on the club’s committee for a number of years, taking on various roles, including social secretary.

He was captain during the club’s great success in the mid-Seventies.

At that time, the competitive membership of the club was almost exclusively made up of senior men with a small number of junior men.

Mr Bushnell played an important part in helping women’s rowing grow, in particular for junior women, and he coached both the beginners’ and junior women’s 14 squad.

At the same time he continued to bring success to the club through rowing at masters level, where he was rarely defeated.

Mr Bushnell’s club activities were reduced in recent years due to ill health.

He is survived by his wife, Fran, their sons Adam and Thomas and grandchildren.