Extracts from 'Old Stourport' by Isaac Wedley ... 1912

"Do you recollect the old Red Caps, William? When a boy they seemed like heroes to me. They are believed to be the pioneers of boating at Stourport."

"Oh! no, John, the pioneers of boating and racing were the Blue Caps. Certainly they didn't last long, but they were the first. Boating began at Stourport in this way: Half-a-dozen young fellows clubbed together and bought an old four-oar inrigged boat from Pardoe, the solicitor at Bewdley. It was a tub, heavy, with narrow-bladed oars and hard-fixed seats. Alfred Johnson and Samuel Haywood, Thomas Nixon and William Underhill, and George and Tom Baylis formed the little club. They wore blue caps and white cotton jerseys. These were quickly followed by another crew called the White Caps, composed of Edwin Broome and Tom Smith, Sampson Roden and Mr Styles, who worked for Mrs Griffen (afterwards Mrs Tempest-Radford). Broome was a fine sculler, and beat the Bewdley champion in a race from Stourport to Ribbesford. But Stourport's boating fame really began with the Red Caps. This crew was made up of two foundrymen, a boat builder, and a carpenter. Timmins (Oxford University trainer) came down for a couple of seasons, and brought an eight-oar boat, and at the regatta he followed the races in his eight-oar, standing up in the boatwearing his red coat and badge. Each man received 4s 6d and a dinner at the Swan for pulling the trainer's boat. Salter (the Oxford boat builder) came as umpire, Talk about enthusiasm, John, I can see the crowds running up the riverside, and shouting themselves hoarse. But this pales before the successors of these men, who, in after years, swept the whole of the Midlands, carrying everything before them; and, but for the lack of funds and public spirit, would have gone to Henley, and put the top stone on that wonderful record."

"I remember that time, William. The crew won nearly £1000 in prizes, including two challenge vases and were unbeaten at the finish. The sound of 'See the conquering hero comes' was so frequent that year that the remark was heard, 'We are almost tired of conquering hero.'"

"When was the first regatta held, William?"

"Nearly sixty years ago, John. It was before either of the crews mentioned, and was got up by the Baldwin family and Mr Charles Harrison. A boat was provided by these gentlemen in which Mr Stringer, Mr Lewty, and the Baylis's pulled, but it was a financial loss, and everything fell quiet for some years. The regattas which have become so famous since, and in which the old Red Caps came to the front, were inaugurated by the Foresters. These were great days for Stourport. The Foresters' Club, with their banners and regalia, headed by the Kidderminster Brass Band, paraded the town, and stirred up enthusiasm. In the procession rode bold Robin Hood and Little John; Friar Tuck and Maid Marian. £40 was given to the Kiddermister Infirmary, the proceeds from this venture. After a season or two the Oddfellows joined with the Foresters, and the display became greater still. Then the old Red Caps changed, and John Baylis, the crackshot of the Volunteers joined them. But I suppose these old sport heroes are nearly all gone?"

"Yes, William. Of the Blue Caps only Alfred Johnson, Tom Baylis, and Underhill; and of the Reds, William Preece is dead, Baylis is in South Africa, Hopcroft is also out of the country, and Edmund Preece is the only one left in the town."

"I was here, John, when the old Institute took up the Rowing Club, and I remember how Mr Dorsett became interested in it. He followed Mr Eaton at the Boys' School. I heard that afterwards he gave this up and followed Thomas Baylis at Wilden Works."

"I should like you to see him, William, before you go back. He's often called the 'Father of the Boat Club.'"

Isaac Wedley 1912