Fascinating insight into man who impacted management of Thames

MORE than 60 people attended the talk by Sandy Nairne and Peter Williams, authors of the meticulously researched book, Titan of the Thames: The Life of Lord Desborough.

Sandy and Peter have known each other for 20 years and are racing punt partners. About 10 years ago they decided to investigate the life of Lord Desborough, who himself had been an avid punter in his life.

The result of their joint research was the publication of their book in February. Importantly, having gone through this process together for almost 10 years, they are still the best of friends and still punting partners.

Titan of the Thames is about the life of William Henry Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough, who lived from the mid 19th until the mid 20th century. He was an all-round sportsman, politician and the kind of person who enjoyed committees and wanted to make a difference through this. It is said that he was on more than 100 committees at one point. Having grown up in Taplow, near Maidenhead, he went to Oxford University where he rowed in the one and only Boat Race that ever resulted in a dead heat.

A voice recording of Lord Desborough talking about this boat race remains in existence and can be heard at the Games at Henley exhibition at the River & Rowing Museum, running until March 2025.

Lord Desborough was instrumental in organising the 1908 Olympics for which the rowing was held in Henley. After this time he became president of the Thames Conservancy for 32 years and had a great impact on various locks and the management of the River Thames.

Series four of the Leander Library Rowing Book Talks has also been launched. Talk one of Series 4 is on Thursday, February 6 with Cath Bishop to talk about her book, The Long Win. To buy tickets, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-
talk-with-cath-bishop-the-long-win-tickets-1074232852379.

Talk two of Series four is on Thursday, March 27, with Hans Maarten van den Brink, who will talk about his novella, On the Water. The book has been translated into 14 languages and has won international prizes. To buy tickets, visit www.eventbrite
.co.uk/e/book-talk-hans-maarten-van-den-brink-on-the-water-tickets-1077364198319

The Rowing Book Talks are open to all and the ticket price includes a finger buffet in the beautiful dining room at Leander Club overlooking the River Thames.

This is the second year that the Leander Library has organised the talks in aid of the Leander Trust to advance the lives of young people through rowing. The charity has created opportunities for young people to fulfil their rowing potential. It is truly making a difference in the lives of young people.

At the start of the talk, we reviewed some of the results achieved through the junior rowing programme at Leander funded by the Leander Trust. Since its inception in 2000, Leander has supported 108 athletes from non-private school backgrounds, helping them achieve remarkable success in rowing and beyond. Of these athletes, 22 have represented Great Britain at the World Championship and their achievements include a silver medal in Tokyo 2020. The Rowing Book Talks have now raised more than £6,000 for the charity.

For more information, email librarian@leandertrust.org

Irene Hewlett