Diamond 44, headed by Terry Overall, the mayor's husband, is researching the historic race - one of three rowed during the Second World War - and they have found a full report in the Ely Standard.

According to the paper, students on cycles and horseback invaded the city and around 6,000 people lined the river banks for a mile and a half above Adelaide bridge to see Oxford win by three-quarters of a length in 8min 6sec. Cambridge had won two earlier races on the Thames.

The crews changed in the Ely boathouse - now a restaurant - where they faced a battery of newsreel cameras before boarding their boats to paddle down to the start. Members of a signals unit with portable wireless transmitters were posted along the course to report the progress of the race.

The finishing point, about 50 yards above Adelaide Bridge, was marked by a flag-bedecked boat, manned by members of the Ely Sea Cadet Corps and their CO Lieut N R Whitwell. Cambridge chose the Ely side of the river and were ahead until about halfway when Oxford raised their stroke and pulled ahead by the finish.

The group set up to organise the rerun of the race met for the first time at The Old Boat House to launch the project and issue an appeal to anyone with memories or memorabilia to get in touch. Already, Ben Cochrane, a member of the Cambridge crew, has produced a picture of the Light Blues outside the boathouse and the group is on the track of some of the newsreel footage that still remains. CONTACT: Terry Overall on 01353 610649 - and tell the Standard.

Published in the Ely Standard of July 18, 2002