Relatives of 1924 Olympic rowers celebrate centenary

FAMILIES of Britain’s rowers at the 1924 Olympic Games attended a lunch to celebrate the centenary of the event.

More than 50 people enjoyed a three-course meal at Leander Club in Henley organised by rowing commentator Robert Treharne Jones.

The 1924 Olympics were held in Paris, where the 33rd Games will begin tomorrow. The regatta featured just seven events, all for men.

Among the lunch guests were relatives of Jack Beresford, who won the single sculls, and of the four men who triumphed in the coxless fours, Maxwell Eley, James MacNabb, Robert Erskine Morrison and Terence Sanders,

Also present were descendants of Hugh “Peter” Dulley and Stephen Fairbairne, who were in the GB eight, and Vincent Boveington, who was in the coxed four.

Guests brought along medals won by their ancestors and other mementoes, such as crew photographs, and were invited to speak about their relatives’ experiences. Steve O’Connor, director of the River & Rowing Museum, brought the gold medal won by Beresford, who was the most decorated Olympic rower until Sir Steve Redgrave surpassed his record more than 60 years later.

Dr Treharne Jones, who had spent five months tracking down the families, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together as strangers yet sharing the common thread of being descended from Olympians.

“Everyone enjoyed the occasion and the opportunity to bring their family memorabilia to a place where the men could be properly recognised and admired.”

Jamie Macnab, the grandson of James Macnabb, who died in 1990, said: “It’s wonderful that Robert invited us to learn a bit more about the crew.

“We’re going around looking for more evidence of Grandpa here at Leander. It’s also about the event because this is the Henley rowing club. If you love sport, to be invited to lunch here is an honour.

“Grandpa was a member of the club and I understand that after the war he was involved in committee but the club was in financial difficulty and needed a lot of work to keep it going.

“Winning a medal at the Olympics wasn’t such a big thing then but it was in later life when he got asked to events. He loved the attention.

“He was a marvellous man who was very charismatic.”

Mr Macnab, from Edinburgh, and his family will attend the Olympic regatta in Paris next week.

He said: “We’re going to about eight races and one of them is the men’s fours final.”

His cousin Ian said: “In 1924 the crew didn’t get time to train on the river before their first heat. Although they didn’t win it, they were able to do enough in various other events to get to the final.

“James was very keen on Leander and on rowing and carried on until he was about 65 to 70.”

Rupert Eley, grandson of Maxwell Eley, who passed away in 1983, said: “Maxwell was born in 1902 and rowed from age 16. He was winning when he was about 20.

“He was charming. He was very lovely and good to his grandchildren so we loved him dearly. We used to go to Cornwall every year and we’d go sailing with him.

“This was a very special event to be invited to.”

Maxwell rowed at bow in the Olympic four and was also in a Leander eight that won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.

Rosemary Cowie, who is the stepdaughter of Robert Morrison, who passed away in 1980, said: “He was a super guy, really wonderful. He was very much a gentleman.

“He was an engineer by trade and he loved rowing.

“It’s lovely to be here. I didn’t know anybody but I’ve met the granddaughter of one of the other rowers in the coxless four.

“The four of them all went along the same path after rowing at Eton and they were a wonderful crew.”