Report by Irene Hewlett, Leander Club Librarian
On Thursday 14 November, Sandy Nairne and Peter Williams, authors of the meticulously researched book on Lord Desborough, Titan of the Thames visited Leander Club to talk about their book. The talk was well attended by more than 60 people. 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 and the result of their joint research was the publication of their book in February of this year. Importantly, having gone through this process together for almost 10 years, they are still the best of friends and still punting partners!
This is the second year that the Leander Library has organised Rowing Book Talks in aid of the Leander Trust, a registered charity (No. 284631) 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, Irene Hewlett, Librarian at Leander 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 £6000 for the charity.
The book Titan of the Thames is about the life of Lord Desborough, who lived from the mid-19th century 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 a particular point in time! He grew up in Taplow near Maidenhead and 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 River and Rowing Museum in Henley at The Games at Henley exhibition, which is on there 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 the President of the Thames Conservancy for 32 years and had a great impact on various locks and the management of the River Thames.
Series 4 of the Leander Library Rowing Book Talks has been launched.
Talk 1 of Series 4 is on 6 February 2025 with Cath Bishop to talk about her book The Long Win. Tickets are available for sale here.
Talk 2 of Series 4 is on 27 March 2025 with Hans Maarten van den Brink who is coming all the way from the Netherlands to talk about his wonderful novella On the Water. His book was translated into 14 languages and has won international prizes. Tickets are available for sale here.
The Rowing Book Talks are open to all and run in aid of the Leander Trust and the ticket price includes a finger buffet in the beautiful dining room at Leander Club overlooking the River Thames.
For more information, please email librarian@leandertrust.org
