Author: Barbara Agnew

Club Covid officer Marianne writes: In the first of her weekly reviews, the First Minister has announced that Edinburgh will remain in Level 3 from next week.   In short, no rowing for us.   

She did, however, cite some cautious notes of optimism that some areas, including Edinburgh, may move to Level 2 at some point in the ‘near future’.  Fife, Perth and Kinross, and Angus will join us in Level 3 from next week.
Any questions, please email covidreturntorowing@queensferryrowing.org
Keep safe and keep looking out for each other.

Club secretary Lorna writes: For those of you who were unable to attend the AGM on Thursday night, the following members were elected for QRC Committee 2020/2021:

Office Bearers

Captain – Dónal Ferrie
Vice-Captain – Marianne Sandison
Treasurer – Anne Purcell
Secretary – Lorna Bark

Committee

John Howell
Alan Sutherland
Douglas Carse
Lesley Jones
Gabriel Levy
Stevie Watson
Beth Christie

A very warm welcome to our new Committee members, and congratulations to
all of the newly elected Office Bearers.

I will let know when our first Committee Meeting is, as soon as we have
decided on a date, and ask for agenda points at that stage.

Club Covid officer Marianne writes: The current Central Belt restrictions are being extended until Monday 02 November, so we’re off the water until at least then. This date is advisory, but as ever as things change. I’ll keep you up to date.

Mike B has kindly set up an email address for any Covid queries – covidreturntorowing@queensferryrowing.org. Any questions, that’s the route to go through.

So, with envious eyes we must continue to gaze wistfully across the water at the Free Independent State of the Republic of the Kingdom of Fife where the denizens are free to row. 😢

Club vice-captain Dónal writes: At the upcoming AGM for the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association there are two places for the Committee to be filled. This is the perfect opportunity for QRC to be represented on the governing body of the sport that we all love.

 The QRC Committee have agreed to nominate our outgoing club Captain, Anne P. We wish her the best of luck in her efforts to get on the SCRA Committee.

Club vice-captain Dónal writes: On October 16^th 1939, the first German air raid on the UK happened when a Junkers 88 attacked the Firth of Forth and the naval dockyard of Rosyth.

Click here to read an eye witness report by a passenger on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen train, which was crossing the Forth Bridge at the time.

Almost simultaneously there was a giant waterspout as high as the bridge alongside one of the capital ships and a barge tied up alongside; it seemed to fly up in the air! In later life I discovered it was HMS Southampton. There were two or three other explosions further off and one of the ships was actually struck; it was HMS Mohawk and casualties were sustained on board. The German bombers were in plain sight only a short distance away flying parallel to the bridge. Meanwhile the train stopped briefly and as it did so the painters and riggers working scrambled from the scaffolding of the bridge and made for shelter.

Edward Thompson

Val added another article with interesting information, this time from the History Press.