THE president of a Weybridge women’s rowing club, who was a member for more than 60 years and rowed until she was well into her eighties, has died.

Eve Gould was described as a “bit of an icon”.

She died aged 89, just a month before Weybridge Ladies’ Amateur Rowing Club turned 90.

The club, based on the Thames Towpath, celebrated the milestone with a garden party last Sunday, with club captain Laura Woolley, 22, saying that the former president was never far from members’ thoughts.

She said: “It was lovely. We had a big garden party with our ex-members as well as a few as ladies who have moved on to other clubs.

“We did a collection at [Miss Gould’s] funeral, so I imagine we will be buying something in her name.”

Despite her age, Miss Gould, who died on Wednesday, June 15, would still partake in the occasional row, having last taken to the Thames when she was 87 years old.

In 2015, she celebrated her 60th anniversary with WLARC.

Her sister Helen still visits the club to see how its members are getting on.

Ms Woolley, of Hillcrest, Weybridge, said of Miss Gould: “She was always very interested in what the young people were doing.

“She used to come out for the weekend and watch. Everybody knew who she was – she was a bit of an icon.”

“She was a very private lady, very kind and [with] a very cheeky sense of character.

“You know how older ladies can have that sort of cheeky smile.”

Members and well-wishers paid tribute to Miss Gould on social media.

Salih Fehmi Zort Hayat said: “So sorry to hear the sad news. She was a lovely, kind and generous with her time.”

Rebecca Scorer said: “Eve, you’ll be sorely missed. You raised the profile of women in sport and I have always admired how fit you remained, even in your eighties.”

Members are now preparing for what it believes will be a busy period for the club, with the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Ms Woolley added: “We are expecting a huge amount of interest after the Olympics.

“We get a lot of people walking past at the weekend who pop in to see what we’re about.”