Leicester Rowing Club Join Jubilee Pageant Celebrations

From a young mother to a retired furniture maker, Leicester Rowing Club’s Jubilee Crew is ready to take the Royal Salute and shout Hurrah for the Queen at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3rd June.  The crew is one of only four inland water rowing boats chosen to participate in the Pageant when over 1000 boats will be on the Thames to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

All the boats will be specially dressed for the event, and the Leicester boat will proudly fly the Leicester Rowing Club “Wyvern” flag, presented by the former Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, Jackie Dickinson  together with the Leicester City coat of arms, presented by the former Lord Mayor, Councillor Robert Wann, both presented at the recent rowing club Regatta.

“I love to row, and to be on the water doing something I love to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee will be an experience I will never forget” said Malcolm Neal, long time Leicester Rowing Club member, who organised the crew.  “It’s a long time since I rowed on the Thames, and to be doing it now for the Queen is definitely something to tell the grandchildren!”

The 4 strong crew of rowers Malcolm Neal, John Wilson, Nicola Cheesman and Julie Paillin, together with cox Neil Martin, will have to row more than 10 miles for the Pageant, and expect to be on the water for at least 4 hours.  They will be rowing one of Leicester Rowing Club’s Explore boats, specially chosen for its stability and weight and normally used for beginners to learn to row.  All the crew will have to wear life jackets – along with their Jubilee costumes and straw boaters to protect against the sun.

“Steering a boat in tidal water is always a challenge” said Neil Martin, cox and responsible for the safety of the crew.  “Rowing the length of the Mile Straight takes only a few minutes and you can see each side, but the Thames is long, wide and with an ebbing tide.  So it will require a lot of concentration to keep the crew rowing at a constant speed, thinking about tidal flows, with hundreds of other boats all around.  And we have to make sure we keep our position ahead of the Queen too!”

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant takes place on Sunday 3^rd June.  Over one million people are expected to line up on the banks of the Thames to watch the flotilla of boats.  The Leicester boat will proceed with other rowed and paddle boats at the front of the flotilla, and will be followed by the Royal Barge and a variety of motorised vessels. 

For further information visit www.leicester-rowing.co.uk or please contact:

For the Diamond Jubilee Crew, please contact	Malcolm Nealmalcolm.neal@btopenworld.com
For Leicester Rowing Club, please contact	Rob Fox Captain, Leicester Rowing ClubE-mail: Captain@Leicester-Rowing.co.uk

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