The Prime Mover of Diamond 44, Terry Overall, was born at Ely, Cambridgeshire in 1942 and has lived there for most of his life. He had been aware for some time of the University Boat Race being contested on the Great Ouse River during the war but, like most local people, did not know the exact date or year.

In April 2002 Terry invited John Ison, Ann Powell, Lynne Turner & Jack Waterfall to form the Diamond44 Core Group, to help him research and promote the project both locally and to the wider world to enable this very special piece of local history to be accurately recorded.

Diamond44 is a voluntary community group, dedicated to celebrating and documenting the 1944 University Boat Race. An application for an 'Awards for All' lottery grant is being prepared to enable the group to cover research and communication costs.

• Contact as many people as possible who were either: at the race, or: can remember it taking place.
  
  
  
• Maintain a point of contact for everyone who is interested in the project.
  
  
  
• Establish & maintain www.diamond44.com, an informative website featuring all aspects of the project, including a register of interest.
  
  
  
• Arrange for the surviving 1944 oarsmen to meet their 2004 counterparts to compare their training programmes, diet and equipment.
  
  
  
• Organise a re-enactment of the 1944 race in February 2004, to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the third wartime race, on The River Great Ouse.
  
  
  
• Publish a book telling the full story.
  
  
  
• Encourage the production of a 30-minute television documentary, to be ready for broadcasting as part of the build-up to the 150th University Boat Race on the Thames Tideway on Saturday 27th March 2004 at 4:37pm.
  
  
  

Point of contact:
Jack Waterfall - Hon. Secretary
Diamond44
1 Castelhythe
ELY
Cambs CB7 4BU