My first historic commission

I have been given my first historic trophy oar commission.  I have been asked to replicate this 1891 Leander Club trophy oar commemorating the club’s win in the Grand at Henley Royal Regatta that year.

The oar is located in the library of Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames.  For those of you who don’t know, Leander Club is the fourth oldest competitive rowing club in the world (the only older ones being Brasenose College, Jesus College and Christ Church, all at Oxford University).  Leander was founded in 1818 in London.  In 1897 the club moved to its current site at Henley-on-Thames, opposite what was then the finishing line of the regatta.

Leander is arguably the world’s most prestigious rowing club, with membership by election only for those who have achieved significant “proficiency in oarsmanship” (such as rowing the Boat Race or an Olympics, or making a final at Henley Royal Regatta), or for “distinguished services to rowing”.  Since 1908 its members have won over 200 Olympic medals!

So, it is quite an honour to get this commission.  It will also be quite a challenge.  There will be a lot of research before I can get started, which I shall discuss in the my next blog.