School boat club’s history explained

THE second series of Leander Club library rowing book talks kicks off on Thursday with Chris Seward, author of In the Pink — A History of the Water at Westminster School Boat Club.

The rowing club is one of the oldest in the world and the school’s written records of amateur rowing date back to 1813.

The races between Westminster and Eton had the social and sporting prestige of today’s Boat Race between Oxford and
Cambridge.

Westminster chose pink as its official colour when rowing against Eton in 1837 rowing so as not to clash with two Blues.

However, the events were not without controversy and at one stage the headmaster suspended rowing for 20 years.

A retired GP, Dr Seward learned to row at Westminster and continued when he did his medical training at Jesus College, Oxford. He now sails on the south coast, around the Lymington area.

The talk is at Leander Club at 7pm. Tickets cost from £25.08, which includes a finger buffet with a main, pudding and cheese.

The event is in aid of the Leander Trust, a charity to advance the education of young people and their physical education by giving them the opportunity to take up rowing and sculling.

To book tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/cc/
leander-library-rowing-book-talks-series-2-2403239