Started in 1715 and said to be the oldest rowing race in the world, the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race is a gruelling course for single sculls of 4.5 miles, from London Bridge to Chelsea, run in under half an hour. On the 25th July, the Worshipful Company of Distillers, of which Richard Watling (57-67) is Master this year, chartered a ship to view the race and then to cruise to Greenwich to see the fast changing skyline of the Thames in the City of London.
Four OBs joined a hundred Liverymen with consorts from many other companies on this fun expedition on the one sunny day of the fortnight, to watch the finish, take lunch and have the chance to find out about the history of the river – a great cocktail for a convivial day out!
*Photo left to right: John Jenner (49-54), Richard Watling (57-67), Sandy Gray (59-64) and Lance Shaw (60-69)