As the summer season approaches, it is good to recall that the quays, wharves and banks of the river Torridge have always been the focus for regattas, galas, markets and celebrations. Generations of children learned to swim by Bideford Bridge and there was even horse racing on the sand exposed at low tide along the east shore. 

Bideford Amateur Rowing Club, ‘The Reds’ was founded 1882, possibly as a paid rowers club from the Tardrews iron foundry. They were very much a working man’s club based from Tom Pollard’s yard at East the Water. The Pollard family had diversified from mining to become coal and fertiliser merchants and shipping agents for the Great Western Steamship Company’s Bristol to New York route. 

The fading photographs of past crews and silverware in the club house on the Quay, recall the Red’s past glories. During the 1920s, recovering from the First World War, they were fearsome competitors collecting many trophies year after year. 

In the 1950s the club arguably had its greatest national exposure. The Reds seniors won the West of England championships in 1951, 52 and 54. When they won again in 1955, they earned the right to try for the famous Daily Herald Cup (run by the national newspaper of that name) – this time on their own Torridge water. 

It’s difficult for us today to realise how big and popular rowing events were. Thousands of supporters crammed the Quay, river bank and bridge to get a prime spot – they weren’t disappointed. 

Right from the start of the one and a half mile race, the Reds’ Rosemary and her crew were in the lead.  Challenged closely by the crews from North London and Hampshire and Dorset, with half a mile to go, they were half a length up.  With the immaculate long stroke, for which they had become famous, they held off a late challenge to win by three quarters of a length in a time of nine minutes and thirty seconds. 

That evening, Bideford Town Hall was overflowing as the mayor presented the enormous, magnificent Daily Herald Cup, to the winning crew of Tony Way, Lew Bright, Ken Hearn, Wally Lee and cox George Tithecott. It is probably still the largest piece of silverware in the trophy cabinet, recalling a momentous day for the Reds and the town’s sporting history. 

Today, as rowers on the Torridge are out practicing and competing, the trophies and fading photographs recall ‘those good old days’.