ROYAL Chester Rowing Club has celebrated 170 years of rowing with the publication of a brief history of the club.
From the granting of Royal patronage in 1840 to the establishment of a junior section 40 years ago, club president Keith Osborne has touched on every important aspect of Royal Chester, one of Britain’s oldest rowing clubs.
Royal Chester was founded in 1838, the coronation year of Queen Victoria, and originally named Chester Victoria Rowing Club.
Mr Osborne’s book gathers together interesting facts and snippets from each of the 170 years, taken from the two- volume official club history and his own ongoing record.
From glorious wins at Henley Royal Regatta to gold medal victories in the World Master regatta, the book is intended to give new members an insight into a long rowing tradition.
It will be presented to each member of the club’s junior squad this year in recognition of the crucial part Mr Osborne, of Waverton, played in the growth of junior rowing at Royal Chester.
Over the past 40 years he has nurtured the talents of dozens of young rowers to national and international success.
Copies of 170 Years of Royals Rowing are available from Grosvenor Museum.
