Nearly 130 years ago, enthusiastic oarsman Dr Frederick Furnivall set up a rowing club in Hammersmith for local working-class girls.
The benevolent bearded benefactor – believed to have inspired Kenneth Grahame's character Ratty in The Wind in the Willows – was years ahead of his time as in 1896 rowing was not considered a suitable pursuit for women.
But the Furnivall Sculling Club has gone from strength to strength and, after a dip in numbers during Covid, is on the rise once again as a community club for women, and men, of all ages and abilities. This summer, for the first time in 16 years, a Furnivall crew qualified for the Henley Royal Regatta.
Although knocked out by a strong crew from Manchester, three of the four Furnivall rowers had only learnt to row two years ago, and the club was the only community club in the borough to qualify for the prestigious rowing festival. Dr Furnivall, a teetotal, non-smoking vegetarian, would have been delighted.
Radical and inclusive
Club captain of three years Evelyn Tichy said that the founder was "a massive social reformer who fundamentally believed that women should be allowed to row", but that he'd quickly broadened his club's scope to provide rowing for working-class men as well.
"It was a radical and inclusive vision for its time," she said. "That legacy continues today as we're still very much a community rowing club for everyone, with a large grant funding scheme for anyone not able to participate for financial reasons."
Low wage earners and recent graduates qualify for concessionary rates, and grants are available for race fees, training camps and rowing courses, mainly paid for by the 210 members' fees, but also supported by the Port of London Authority, which manages the tidal section of the Thames.
Hammersmith roots
This year's Henley Regatta marked the 50th anniversary of the first ever female competitor, cox Christine Paul; a cause for celebration as she was from Furnivall.
Based in Lower Mall – a few doors from the Rutland Arms pub and close to the popular riverside gardens that bear the founder's name – the club has a fleet of single and double sculls, fours and eights.
A recent environmental grant means that all the club's support launches are switching to electric power. This is a process that will be complete within five years, making what is an already green club even greener.
While it isn't the largest club on the river, it's one of the few still providing learn-to-row courses (up to 40 are trained every year, whether or not they've ever been in a boat). Many members live in Hammersmith & Fulham – with plenty walking to the club.
"Most rowers tend to live close by, because it's a sport that has quite a large training load," said Evelyn. "Those in the competitive squads probably train eight or more times a week, so a long commute makes that tricky. I live just across the river in Putney."
The fully refurbished clubhouse is a welcoming place, and the club is always actively recruiting, aided by having a busy and supportive coaching team.
Visit the club's website Furnivall Sculling Club for more information, or email information@furnivall.org for inquiries about joining, or taking part in next spring's training programme.
Want to get into rowing?
There are many other rowing clubs along the riverside if you want to learn more or get involved. They are:
Fulham Reach Boat Club, set up in 2014, is based at Distillery Wharf, Fulham, and offers training courses just 200m from Hammersmith Bridge.
Sons of the Thames is a club based on the Tideway, just upstream of Hammersmith Bridge, which combines social events and competition rowing.
And there's also the Auriol Kensington Rowing Club at Lower Mall, Hammersmith, which bills itself as the friendliest rowing club on the river. Find all the information you need on the Auriol Kensington Rowing Club website.
