PLANS to repeat the 1944 University Boat Race on the Great Ouse at Ely on its sixtieth anniversary next year have taken another big step forward.
Last week, survivors of the original race got together with Diamond44 - a group of enthusiasts led by Terry Overall and Jack Waterfall who are determined to lay on a major celebration.
Back in the city for the first time since 1944 to meet up with other survivors of the Cambridge crew was Donald Ramsay, who moved to Ottawa just three years after the race - the only one not rowed on the Thames.
He had plenty to discuss with fellow veterans Ian Phillips, Martin Whitworth and the man who was left out at the last minute, David Paul.
They began their nostalgic day by meeting up with another Cambridge rowing stalwart, James Crowden, the former Lord Lieutant of Cambridgeshire, at Elgood's Brewery in Wisbech
Also there was one of their 1944 rivals, Dr Michael Brooks, and a member of the 1945 Cambridge crew, Peter Nissen, whose father invented the Nissen hut.
They were greeted by the managing director of the family business Belinda Sutton and production chief Alan Pateman, who is preparing a Diamond 4.4% Special Brew to commemorate the race. Also present for a conducted tour was the Mayor of Wisbech Patrick Odell.
Then it was off to lunch at The Old Boathouse Restaurant in Ely, where the 1944 crews had started out for their epic war-time encounter - won by Oxford by three-quarters of a length.
Among those joining them were the Bishop of Ely, the Rt Rev Dr Anthony Russell and the Mayor of Ely, Shirley Overall, together with veteran Oxford oarsman and King's School Ely teacher Jerry Dale, and the manager of the Cambridge University Boat Club Dick Pryce-Jones.
Mr Dale and Mr Pryce-Jones discussed the probability of the universities' veteran crews rowing against each other over the course from the Lark to Queen Adelaide bridge on Saturday, February 28, 2004 to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the original encounter.
This is where the Cambridge crew still traditionally trains for the Boat Race, which will be rowed on the Tideway for the 150th time next year.
Last week's visitors had a chance to look around the Cambridge boathouse and inspect the boat that was damaged on the eve of this year's race before heading off to Queen Adelaide, where a crowd of around 30 original spectators were waiting to greet them with tea in the village hall.
Published in the Ely Standard of May 8th, 2003
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