New Racing Four for Ladies’ Rowing Club

Endeavours over the past four years by Bideford and District Ladies’ Rowing Club to raise money for the purchase of a new racing four were brought to triumphant fulfilment on Saturday evening when the new boat was christened and launched from Bideford river bank in the presence of a large crowd of supporters and friends.

The new boat cost £233. It is the first the club has ever purchased. Funds have been raised by an appeal and the organising of dances and various other social functions.

The chairman of the club (Miss M. Marshall) welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford (Mr. D.F.B. Stucley and the Hon. Mrs. Stucley) to the ceremony and remarked that the new boat was only the second the club had ever had. The first boat was kindly given to the club by Mr. F.J. Sanguine four years ago and it was then the club decided to save and buy a boat of their own.

“It is a great privilege for me to take advantage of this opportunity of wishing the new boat good luck and good fortune to the crews who will row in her,” said the Mayor.

It was very much to the credit of the club that after a long period of endeavour they had now achieved their own boat.

“If you, the club, who are prepared to raise the amount to buy this boat, then you deserve every success in your effort,” continued the Mayor.

He felt the club members would wish him to thank all those people who have helped towards this. The former President of the club (Mrs. C.A. Grant) had issued an appeal last year for funds which had met with a very generous response, in addition there was the organising of the other events to make the climax that evening possible.

There was no doubt that rowing was one of the finest sports because of its unequalled team spirit. Of course, the whole secret was to row together and Bideford had absolutely gone to the top of the river at Westcountry regattas in the past few months. “We are proud of our rowers in Bideford,” added the Mayor.

The Mayoress, who is also President of the club, then stepped forward and, with a hammer decorated in the club’s colours of blue and red, broke the gaily-decorated bottle of champagne over the new craft’s bows and said “I name this boat Nil Desperandum.” At the same time a small Union Jack was removed and the new name revealed.

The coxswain (Doreen Balsdon) presented a box of chocolates to the Mayoress.

Thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress for attending were voiced by the Club’s captain and secretary (Mrs. J. Williams).

ESCORTED UP RIVER

To the accompaniment of cheers from the onlookers the boat was lowered and with Misses Valerie Goodman, Jean Harris, Pauline Screech and Marion Pilcher as her crew and 12 year old Doreen Balsdon as cox, the Nil Desperandum went gracefully away from the Riverbank. Escorted by two other crews from the “Reds” and the “Blues,” the Nil Desperandum was proudly rowed up the River Torridge for the first time.

In the Clubhouse following the ceremony, a christening cake made and presented by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patt, was cut and toasts were drunk to the success of the new craft.

Gazette article dated 3 September 1954