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The
Cambridge Crew from 1944
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Back in
February 1944, as the country was still in the grip of World War II,
the Oxford Cambridge Varsity Boat Race took place in the heart of
the Fens!
The
course stretched for one and a half miles over the River Great Ouse
in Ely, and it's the only time the boat race has not been held on
the Thames in its 150 year history!
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The
2004 veteran Cambridge Crew
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On
Saturday 28th February 2004 university veteran crews re-contested
the famous wartime encounter from 1944 when Oxford beat Cambridge
by three-quarters of a length! This time round Cambridge got their
revenge by beating Oxford by three lengths!
Alongside
this special race was a whole day of fun activities including sailing
demonstrations, music from the Ely City Military Band and a Spitfire
flyover!
Boat
Race celebration photo gallery »
The
day was rounded off in style with a dinner cruise and an evening
of dance to the Glenn Miller sound of the Umbrella Big Band at the
Ely Maltings.
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The
Cambridge Crew from 1944
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The
big day - organised by a group called Diamond 44 - also included
a Service of Thanksgiving in Ely Cathedral followed by a wreath-laying
at the grave of former Dean of Ely, Charles Merivale, in Ely Cemetery.
While a student at Cambridge University in 1829, he rowed in the
first University Boat Race and it is believed he was responsible
for instituting the event by challenging Oxford student Charles
Wordsworth, a nephew of poet William Wordsworth.
For
more details of this fantastic event and to see archive video footage,
visit the diamond44 website: www.diamond44.com
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