Mark has been a member of QBC since the late 90’s and held positions of Captain and Vice Captain for 16. He’s also been one of our most successful athletes on the water having competed for the club in multiple Henley Royal Regatta events, including the Diamond Sculls and the Goblets. He’s also picked up multiple wins in the Sculls Head, Pairs Head and Fours Head. As well as being the last medalist for the club at the National Championships.
Mark has achieved many roles whilst Captain : managing and upgrading the great fleet of boats we possess, managing the bar and events, looking after all repairs and maintenance of the boats, arranging boat hires and towing to regattas. He’s also developed a good working relationship with Kew House School, the University of Westminster and East India Club. More recently he’s worked tirelessly on the redevelopment project alongside Aubrey and Dave with the architects, project managers and contractors, always stepping in to help where he can. He’s meticulously planned and overseen the emptying of the old boathouse and single handedly racked the temporary boat storage units, managed the arrival of the storage containers and subsequently filling them with QBC possessions.
We are sure there are many more things Mark has done during his tenure of Captain and Vice Captain but suffice to say over the last 16 years there is very little that has occurred at the club that he has not had some involvement in and normally a leading one.
Beks Chatwin has also compete in many races for the club winning Gold at the Home Countries regatta for Wales, as well as winning multiple events for the club in the Pairs Head, Fours Head and Women’s Head for Quintin. She will also be stepping down as entries secretary and organising the annual club dinner. She will however carry on organising the Chiswick Regatta for which we are most thankful.
We look forward to continue seeing their adorable daughter who has practically lived at QBC since birth and has got to know many of the members very well.
So it’s with heavy hearts we say a fond farewell for the time being while Mark finds his feet at his new job at Oxford University Boat Club for which we wish him every success. QBC will always be his home club so he’s not leaving us all together but understandably has to step down from the committee, although we are pleased he will help as much as he can during the redevelopment and subsequent fit out and come back for our celebratory opening of the new QBC Boat House.
We are also pleased to bestow the honour of making him one of the club’s Vice Presidents
Those of you who attended the recent AGM were able to be upstanding and give Mark a round of applause for all his hard work to let him know how much we appreciate him.
So for now, good luck to Mark and Beks and we hope your time at Oxford University Boat Club is exciting and rewarding!
With all the very best the QBC committee and all our members.
