A 100-year-old rowing boat was celebrated with a welcome home party as it returned to its home grounds after a restoration project.
Members of the Dittons Skiff and Punting Club, by Hampton Court, celebrated the boat’s return by recreating a photograph from 1961, which saw the vessel exiting the Molesey Lock to be met by other club boats on the river.
Member Malcolm Pembery followed in his father’s footsteps by coxing the boat, originally built sometime between 1890 and 1900, in the recreated photo, which was taken on Sunday, September 27.
Ray Pembery, Malcolm’s father, had coxed the boat in 1961, along with Peter Smith, Ralph Bending, Frank Mullett and Theo Hewett.
Affectionately calling the boat “the old girl”, Mr Pembery said: “It was pretty emotional considering the family side of it.
“It’s very special to the club. It was actually my grandfather who bought it from the original people so it’s stayed in the family.”
The boat has held the record for the longest distance travelled in 24 hours and had competed many times in the Great River Race, along with taking pride of place in the fleet in the Queen’s pageant in 2012.
Junior members of the club regularly take the boat out on the stretch between Molesey and Teddington Locks, despite the age of the vessel.
Mr Pembery also added: “It would be a shame to put it into a museum, but that will probably happen eventually.”
The club plans to redo the picture in 2069, with the Pembery children and grandchildren in line to cox the boat once more.
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