I am just recovering after 11 flights, 25 different beds and 6 time changes in a round the world trip - Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and America - but have now caught up on the e-mails, all 338 of them. A few days before I left I managed to get to Lancaster and to get hold of the old minutes of the John o'Gaunt Rowing Club. Unfortunately, whilst there are references to photographs there are none with the minutes and I understand that most were discarded after being affected by damp in storage.[Jonathan's] grandfather's application for membership of the club was accepted at a meeting at the boathouse on 5 May 1909. The first mention of him as a member of a competing crew was in April 1910 and then he is regularly included in reports of various regattas over several years. On 16 Feb 1912 "Councillor J. Turney proposed, and Mr. Little seconded the election of Mr. T. Wrathall as treasurer". During WW1 the club had 40 members in the forces and the activity appears to have been restricted, but Thomas was present at meetings as Treasurer and clearly did not serve in the forces. On 26 July 1918 he was appointed as Honorary Secretary to the club, a post he held until his resignation in 1923.
In the Committee Report for 1923 was the following: "Mr. H. Chapman during the past year has worthily upheld the high traditions of a long line of Captains, and the Committee feel that in submitting the name of Mr. T Wrathall as his successor that the whole Club will heartily endorse the Committee's nomination". [Jonathan] has the plaque which records his Captaincy in 1924 and he was still rowing at that time. After his year as Captain he remained on the members list, and it would appear on the Committee, right up to 1945 where the archived minutes end. He must have been quite keen on the social activities of the club as he appears regularly on the Dance Committee from 1911 onwards. In 1931 J. Wrathall, presumably [Jonathan's] father, was elected a member of the Club and in 1935 he is mentioned as a Co-opted Member of the Committee. As he also appeared on the Dance Committee for that year this may have been the reason for his co-option.
Amongst loose papers with the minutes I found a copy of a song "written and sung by J. Ewan on the occasion of the victories of the John o'Gaunt crews in the Count Plate and Witch Stakes, 1911" to the tune " British Grenadiers". It is as follows:-
Regarding the photo of Thomas in a fire officer's uniform, I find that all the records are held in the County Records Office at Preston so I will make some enquiries when I am next there. I think the John o'Gaunt records may also be sent to Preston eventually but at the moment they are in the reference section of the library at Lancaster.
Some talk of the Leanders,
and some of Chester Dees,
of Agecroft and Lancaster,
and such great clubs as these,
but of provincial rowers,
this is our glorious vaunt,
there's none can hold a candle
to the good old John o'Gaunt. Chorus: Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, Bravissimo.That good old boat, the Duffer,
was manned by sons of thine,
what foreigners could snuff 'er,
from Severn to the Tyne?
With hearts and hands those heroes,
this we can proudly vaunt,
in times of old brought laurels,
to the good old John o'Gaunt.Of them we sing the praises,
who won the Count Plate,
stroked by old Teddy Davies,
They've nabbed some pots of late.
Dick Irving, Wrathall, Walker,
outstrip these four they can't,
we're proud to know they're members
of the good old John o'Gaunt.Then Chapman, Pinch and Spooner,
with Stanley as bow man,
knocked spots off other comers,
who merely "also ran".
With two such crews among us,
let not the Lankey's taunt,
that all is fat and blubber
in the good old John o'Gaunt.Then lets fill up our glasses,
and toast them three times three,
who swamped the men from Wigan,
and those who came from Dee.
May cups they've won remind them,
as round the world they jaunt,
That the blue and gold is peerless,
long live the John o'Gaunt.Note: "Lankeys" will be a reference to the Lancaster Rowing Club.
