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Valete: John Pitchford 1935 - 2024

JP was a giant of a man with a warm and engaging personality to match. People naturally gravitated towards him and gales of laughter were never far away. 

He arrived at Bewl around 1982 as a double Boat Race winner (1957-58) to quietly help with a spot of coaching.

Rowing and racing in an assortment of veteran Bewl crews in the UK and abroad soon followed, always on bow side.

In 1996 JP entered the British Indoor Rowing Championship and recorded a time of 6:51.9 in the Heavyweight Vet (60-69) category breaking the existing world record of 6.55.8 by 3.9 seconds. The organisers missed it on the day but a letter followed congratulating John. It went on to explain that his record didn’t count as it hadn’t been recorded at the US championships!

Another highlight came in 1998 when JP (at 5) along with John Northridge (1) , Hugh Spivey (7) and Lawrence Williams (4) met up with Grosvenor at the Vesta Veterans Head and, having worked out who would sit where, raced in the Vet D (50) category winning their event.

This was later balanced by achieving possibly the only Bewl capsize in an experienced coxed 4 (with Margaret) prior to leaving the bank and while the stroke side blades remained in contact with the shingle. The boat was carried straight back up again and breakfast in what is now the Bistro followed.

Of lasting significance, John was an instigator of the Bewl Junior section in 2004. With just one club quad and a tub available, address books were deployed, contacts reactivated and bottles of wine exchanged for cast off boats and blades sitting at the back of boat sheds far and wide. The buildup of the junior squad with a fleet to match at Bewl had started.

John could not have been happier with the growth and results achieved since.

JP retained his membership and interest in the club and with his infectious enjoyment of life he leaves behind a huge hole in our lives and a legacy to be proud of. It was a privilege to have rowed with him.

Lawrence Williams

Kent rowers Mika and Louise win four golds at World Rowing Masters in Germany.

Full story see: locals win at the Worlds

Alumna Emily Craig wins Gold at Paris 2024

Full story see: Champions Forever  and Emily Craig