Many of the boats in Durham ARC’s fleet have been given ‘Darc’ names but others have been named after individuals with interesting stories, a few of which are below.
Erik Whiteley (coxed four)
Born at Riverside House on the River Wear in 1933 Erik Whiteley learned to love boats, and the craftsmanship that went into building them, at a young age. Having learnt the trade from his grandfather Joseph Brown, who started the Brown’s Boats business in Durham, he spent his time repairing the fleet of pleasure boats and then resumed the practise of building fine racing boats after the death of the then owner J Erik Brown in 1975.
After the introduction of the National Lottery in November 1994 the Club succeeded in 1996 in obtaining a grant of £17260 that went towards the purchase of three boats from Janousek as well as two wooden fours from Browns called “Eric Whiteley” and “Paul Lishman” which were named in 1998 – Paul Lishman being a current director.
Erik Whiteley was a member of the Durham Regatta Committee for around 20 years and died at the age of 85 in December 2018.
John Short (tub pair)
In 1993, after securing a grant of £32,200 from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts the Club purchased an eight and three coxed fours as well as a tub pair from Browns called “John Short”. A fine four acquired in 1975 and named J.A Short had by then been sold.
John Short died in his 91st year on March 29th, 2016. He was a member of Durham ARC’s first ever crew to enter the Head of the River Race on March 24th, 1956, the eight being coached by Peter Burdess and crewed by B.W.Fenner, J.A.Short, A.Ruddock, I.C.Shepherd, J.W.Golightly, J.Cook, F.Weatherley, J.H.McGregor and coxed by J.Biglands.
Although success as an oarsman was limited John was involved with coaching and was an umpire for 20 years. After serving as Club Treasurer he was appointed as Secretary in 1961 and held the position until 1974. During the late 1960s and early 1970s he was also heavily involved with the management of the project to relocate the clubhouse to its new site. He organised a weekly dance in the Town Hall on Saturday nights to raise funds for the project.
He was Regatta Secretary for both Durham ARC and Durham Regatta, and was Club Chairman between 1979 and 1994.
John helped with the Explore Rowing scheme from its inception in 2010.
Jack Hill (tub pair)
In 1979 Erik Whiteley built the Club a traditional clinker-built tub pair at a cost of £850 which was named “Jack Hill”. Jack Hill was joint Regatta Secretary when the Wear Regatta (later renamed Durham City Regatta) was first held over the short course in 1970.
He was Club Treasurer when the new boathouse, built largely by volunteers, opened in 1971 and reported on how the value of volunteers was demonstrated by the new building being valued the following year at over three times the cost of construction.
Peter Burdess (coxed quad/four)
Peter Burdess died suddenly, aged 84, on January 24th 2012. He made a huge contribution to rowing at the Club and in the Northern region as a competitor, coach, volunteer and supporter over more than 60 years.
Peter joined Durham ARC in 1950 and first started coaching for the club in 1956. He was particularly effective in bringing newcomers into rowing. Until his death he was still rowing or coaching six days a week, working with Masters rowers who had come through Durham’s Explore Rowing programme. helping the club vastly improve its retention rates amongst older participants.
His contribution was recognised with the award of the British Rowing Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011.
Kim Metcalfe (coxless quad/four)
Ralph (Kim) Metcalfe died aged 69 on August 18th 2013, his legacy part funding additions to the fleet in 2018. Kim had a long and illustrious career at senior and veteran level and after retirement from an offshore career was appointed captain in 2010.
Victory with his lifelong rowing partner John Appleby in the Grand Challenge Cup at Durham Regatta in 1969 was followed by an appearance at the first National Championships at Holme Pierrepont in 1972 in which the pair finished 5th.
Success in the same event at the World Masters Regatta followed in 1988 and again in 2005 when the regatta was staged at Strathclyde Park, before the pair joined the very successful Veterans 8+ that had an unprecedented run of victories at national and international level from 2008.
An all round sportsman he was also understudy to England international Stan Hodgson as hooker for Durham City Rugby Club.
As captain of DARC he was instrumental in introducing the Explore Rowing programme at the club and had an enthusiasm for welcoming new members to rowing.
Jan Metcalfe (coxed quad/four)
In 1972 Kim’s wife Janet (Jan) Metcalfe organised a committee of ladies willing to assist the club through voluntary efforts by carrying out regatta catering etc. She continued in this role for many years, the ladies committee also raising funds for the alteration of the layout of the kitchen when the new boathouse was completed. Her untimely death in August 2012 was a great loss to the club.
Roly Metcalfe (coxless quad/four)
Roland (Roly) Metcalfe died at the age of 68 on November 29th, 2013. He was a member of DARC for many years, rowing with the Vets, and was at the forefront of fundraising for the Club with his band.
Formerly Head of Music and a Deputy Headteacher at Pittington Primary School, he also held several roles within the Durham Regatta Committee, serving as Regatta Secretary for many years and being instrumental in forging links with local bands that helped to showcase the Regatta. He later took on the role of Sponsorship Secretary, bringing in numerous title sponsors.
Jessica Eddie (eight)
Jess Eddie was introduced to rowing at DARC at the age of 8 and went on to form a highly successful partnership with twin sister Alex. Coached by Gordon Beattie the pair won a gold medal in the J15 girls double sculls at the National Junior Championships in 2000. While at DARC Jess was also selected for Great Britain at the 2001 and 2002 World Junior Championships, and won at the National Schools Regatta in 2003. The Club’s new lightweight eight was named after her and launched in 2013.
Her finest achievement as a senior was winning a silver medal in the GB Women’s 8+ at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Now based in London Jess represents London Rowing Club and since 2019 has been a curator of the Victoria & Albert Museum. She was elected a Henley Steward in 2021.
Bill Grant (single scull)
Bill Grant died at the age of 67 after suffering a medical incident while coaching a Durham ARC crew from his bicycle on Saturday February 28th, 2015. A native of Sunderland he attended Shrewsbury School before graduating from University College and Durham University Business School. He was a former member of Durham University Boat Club who he represented at Henley Royal Regatta between 1968 and 1970, before joining DARC and competing in the Head of the River Race in 1972 (the eight being crewed by Kim Metcalfe, Tom Bishop, Mike Matthews, Fred Snowdon, Ian Shepherd, Bill Grant, Geoff Potts, John Appleby and cox Andy Jaggard).
Returning to rowing in 2007 after retiring from a long career as a jeweller Bill bought himself a single sculling boat and worked tirelessly and voluntarily for DARC in his capacity as Boat Warden as well as voluntarily coaching crews and umpiring at regattas. He divided his time between DARC and serving as a committee member for the Diocese of Durham.
His single scull was donated to the Club by his family and named by his widow Jenny at a ceremony on September 13th 2015.
John E Bell (single scull)
John Ernest Bell died on February 4th, 2013. He started his rowing career at Bede College in Durham and then had a very successful career at Tyne Rowing Club, where he was a member of the 1968 Tyne eight that achieved probably the club’s highest position in the Tideway Head. When Tyne RC had its extension added in the late sixties, John spent a great deal of time working along with other club members doing much of the fitting out. Once the new premises were in place, social events were run and John, with the aid of equipment borrowed from the school where he worked, ran discos which were always well attended.
John taught rowing at Kenton School before moving to Slatyford School. He then moved away to Bedford and founded Bedford Schools Rowing Association, then moved on again to teach at Cardiff, then to Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Returning to England he took up a position teaching physics at Durham School and became involved in junior coaching there. Living in Durham in retirement he took part in Masters sculling heads with Durham ARC.
He was awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal by British Rowing in 2012.
The single scull was obtained by DARC from Durham School