Mr. Alfred Watkins, in the course of a lecture on “By-gone Herefordshire” at the Herefordshire Photographic Society’s Rooms on Monday evening, whilst making a passing reference to “Old Dick Jordan,” of the Boat House, regretted that school races on the Wye were not more encouraged. He was afraid, he said, that rowing between schools was going down, cricket and other games taking its place, and it would be a loss not only to Hereford but the Universities as well, for Hereford had supplied a number of good ’Varsity men—Dr. Bourne and others. There were only six schools in the kingdom that had such good rowing facilities as those possessed at Hereford, and he thought these, instead of being neglected, should be taken greater advantage of (applause).
The Deputy Mayor (Mr. M. C. Oatfield), who presided over the gathering, said he quite agreed with Mr. Watkins. The boys at the Cathedral School were not encouraged in rowing as they ought to be, seeing the advantages they possessed, for on no river was there a better straight mile course than on the Wye. There were only six schools in the kingdom, as Mr. Watkins had rightly said, which had such an advantage as they had at Hereford. The reason that rowing had fallen into the background at Hereford was that both Worcester and Monmouth used to arrange races during the early term, but unfortunately there were two pathetic accidents, two boys being drowned, and it was now put off to a later term. Consequently there was want of interest on the part of the authorities of the Hereford Cathedral School in giving the boys facilities for rowing. He hoped if anything could be done to give greater encouragement to rowing it would be done (applause).
Source info: Looks like Hereford Times (cf. 101b); MS note by AW “Ap 9th 1923”.
Although this lecture by Watkins was on “Bygone Herefordshire”, the reporter has given only his remarks about school rowing. A report of the whole lecture is given in cutting 101b.