Robert Chambers (oarsman)
Encyclopedia
Robert Chambers was a famous Tyneside
professional oarsman. He became the Tyne, Thames, English and World Sculling Champion
.
He was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper
and James Renforth
.
. His father worked as a iron moulder at Losh, Wilson and Bells ironworks in nearby Walker
and young Bob also began work there as a iron puddler
, a job that involves stirring molten pig iron
with a ladle to release the impurities. Although the work was hot and dirty, it developed his arm and chest muscles.
Chambers first appeared in a rowing contest at the age of 21, when he was beaten in a sculling
race by a competitor named Hicks. However his performances improved until he was drawn against the veteran oarsman Harry Clasper
in the second heat of the Tyne sculling championship, in 1855. Clasper, who at that time was 43, won the race, but he recognised that Chambers had great potential. He therefore invited him to join his Derwenthaugh crew. The new crew consisted of Harry Clasper (at stroke), his brother Robert, his eldest son John Hawks and Robert Chambers. The crew took part in the Durham Regatta
of 1856 and won the main prize, the Patron’s Plate. Chambers took part in the sculling
competition and lost in the final to teammate John Hawkes Clasper.
was chosen. A race between the two men took place on the Tyne on 19 April 1859 from the High Level Bridge
to the Scotswood
Suspension Bridge for a stake of £200 a-side.
Chambers won the race in amazing fashion. After 400 yards he collided with a moored boat and found himself 100 yards behind White, a seemingly impossible deficit to make up. However, he refused to give up and by the finish he had turned a 100 yards deficit into a 60 yards lead. His perseverance in this and other races earned him the nickname “Honest Bob”, showing how people admired a competitor who gave a brave, whole-hearted performance.
. The champion at that time was Harry Kelley
and a race was arranged for 29 September 1859 from Putney
to Mortlake
. The stake was £200 a-side. The race was close for the first mile, but then Chambers began to pull away from Kelley and finally won by 200 yards. He was the first oarsman from the provinces to win this prestigious title and his backers rewarded him with a purse of 100 gold sovereigns
. Chambers was now undisputed champion of the Tyne and Thames. Before 1876, the English Sculling Championship
was considered to be the premier event in professional sculling. In 1876, the English Title gained the World status and earlier winners were retrospectively given the title of World Champion.
"Honest Bob's" success against the Thames scullers was recorded for posterity in verse by Geordie Ridley, the music hall poet:
Another match was arranged with Tom White, this time on White’s home water, the Thames. This took place in September 1860 for a stake of £200 a side. Chambers won an easy victory. In April 1863 Chambers sculled against another challenger from the Thames, named George Everson, and won by 100 yards.
In 1863 the Australian sculling champion, Richard A.W. Green, travelled to England for a match with Chambers, to be rowed on the Thames, from Putney to Mortlake i.e. the Championship Course. The race was the first overseas challenge for the English Championship Title and the stake was £400. Chambers won easily.
Chambers subsequently lost the Championship to Harry Kelley, the Thames sculler, in 1865, in a race held on the Thames. Kelley retired but Chambers then won the title back in an open race with Joseph Sadler
in 1866. Chambers was defeated by Harry Kelley, (who had come out of retirement) in 1868, in a race held on the Tyne.
For further details of the seven World Title races that Chambers was involved in see World Sculling Championship.
near Darlington
. However this was to no avail and he moved back to St Anthony’s, where he died on 4 June 1868, at the age of 37.
He was buried in Walker
Churchyard and a magnificent memorial was erected over his grave, showing him in repose, with sculling oar lying alongside him. The memorial, somewhat vandalised, can be seen there today.
At his funeral, one of the mourners was a young sculler called James Renforth
. He would soon take over where Robert Chambers had left off and become equally famous.
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
professional oarsman. He became the Tyne, Thames, English and World Sculling Champion
World Sculling Championship (Professional)
The World Sculling Championship , evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.Only the sport of boxing claims an older Championship of the World...
.
He was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper
Harry Clasper
Harry Clasper was a Tyneside professional rower and boat builder. He was an innovative boat designer who pioneered the development of the racing shell and the use of outriggers. He is said to have invented spoon-shaped oars...
and James Renforth
James Renforth
James Renforth was a famous Tyneside professional oarsman. He became the World Sculling Champion in 1868 and was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper and Robert Chambers.-Early history:...
.
Early history
Robert Chambers was born at St Anthony’s, a riverside area, east of NewcastleNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. His father worked as a iron moulder at Losh, Wilson and Bells ironworks in nearby Walker
Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Walker is a residential suburb and electoral ward just east of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Walker's name is a hybrid of Old English and Viking Norse, "Wall-kjerr", where "kjerr" is Norse for "marshy woodland"...
and young Bob also began work there as a iron puddler
Iron puddler
For the politician see James J. DavisAn iron puddler or a 'puddler' is an occupation involved in the manufacture of iron. Puddling was an improved process to convert pig iron into wrought iron with the use of a reverberating furnace.James J...
, a job that involves stirring molten pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
with a ladle to release the impurities. Although the work was hot and dirty, it developed his arm and chest muscles.
Chambers first appeared in a rowing contest at the age of 21, when he was beaten in a sculling
Sculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...
race by a competitor named Hicks. However his performances improved until he was drawn against the veteran oarsman Harry Clasper
Harry Clasper
Harry Clasper was a Tyneside professional rower and boat builder. He was an innovative boat designer who pioneered the development of the racing shell and the use of outriggers. He is said to have invented spoon-shaped oars...
in the second heat of the Tyne sculling championship, in 1855. Clasper, who at that time was 43, won the race, but he recognised that Chambers had great potential. He therefore invited him to join his Derwenthaugh crew. The new crew consisted of Harry Clasper (at stroke), his brother Robert, his eldest son John Hawks and Robert Chambers. The crew took part in the Durham Regatta
Durham Regatta
Durham Regatta is the premier rowing event in the North East of England, held each year on the second weekend in June on the River Wear which provides a picturesque setting for regattas and head races....
of 1856 and won the main prize, the Patron’s Plate. Chambers took part in the sculling
Sculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...
competition and lost in the final to teammate John Hawkes Clasper.
Early rowing career
Chambers continued to be coached by Clasper, who was a very astute rowing coach, and his rowing improved immensely. In the Thames Regatta of 1856, Clasper and Chambers formed a crew with two Thames watermen and won the fours race. The following year, in the sculling competition, Chambers won the championship, beating the best of the Thames scullers. The Thames watermen were sensitive about outsiders winning races on their river. They therefore looked for a local sculler who could restore local pride by beating the Tyneside man. Tom White of BermondseyBermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
was chosen. A race between the two men took place on the Tyne on 19 April 1859 from the High Level Bridge
High Level Bridge
The High Level Bridge is a road and railway bridge spanning the River Tyne between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in North East England.-Design:...
to the Scotswood
Benwell and Scotswood
Benwell and Scotswood is an electoral ward of Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England. The ward encompasses the Benwell and Scotswood housing areas, as well as the Newcastle Business Park, which is located on the banks of the River Tyne and houses offices of companies such as British Airways and...
Suspension Bridge for a stake of £200 a-side.
Chambers won the race in amazing fashion. After 400 yards he collided with a moored boat and found himself 100 yards behind White, a seemingly impossible deficit to make up. However, he refused to give up and by the finish he had turned a 100 yards deficit into a 60 yards lead. His perseverance in this and other races earned him the nickname “Honest Bob”, showing how people admired a competitor who gave a brave, whole-hearted performance.
Championship of the Thames & World Champion
Chambers continued to win sculling races until he was considered an eligible challenger for the Championship of the ThamesWorld Sculling Championship (Professional)
The World Sculling Championship , evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.Only the sport of boxing claims an older Championship of the World...
. The champion at that time was Harry Kelley
Harry Kelley
Harry Kelley was a famous professional oarsman on the Thames. He became the Tyne, Thames, English and World Sculling Champion, a title he won four times.-Sculling career:...
and a race was arranged for 29 September 1859 from Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
to Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
. The stake was £200 a-side. The race was close for the first mile, but then Chambers began to pull away from Kelley and finally won by 200 yards. He was the first oarsman from the provinces to win this prestigious title and his backers rewarded him with a purse of 100 gold sovereigns
British Sovereign coin
The sovereign is a gold coin of the United Kingdom, with a nominal value of one pound sterling but in practice used as a bullion coin.Named after the English gold sovereign, last minted in 1604, the name was revived with the Great Recoinage of 1816. Minting these new sovereigns began in 1817...
. Chambers was now undisputed champion of the Tyne and Thames. Before 1876, the English Sculling Championship
English Sculling Championship
The English Sculling Championship developed out of informal competitions between working watermen on rivers such as the Thames and the Tyne. Various matches were made on a casual basis but in time these were more formalised. The first recognised Champion was Charles Campbell who beat John Williams...
was considered to be the premier event in professional sculling. In 1876, the English Title gained the World status and earlier winners were retrospectively given the title of World Champion.
"Honest Bob's" success against the Thames scullers was recorded for posterity in verse by Geordie Ridley, the music hall poet:
- O, ye Cockneys all,
- Ye mun think't very funny,
- For Bob he gans and licks ye all,
- An collars all yer money
Another match was arranged with Tom White, this time on White’s home water, the Thames. This took place in September 1860 for a stake of £200 a side. Chambers won an easy victory. In April 1863 Chambers sculled against another challenger from the Thames, named George Everson, and won by 100 yards.
In 1863 the Australian sculling champion, Richard A.W. Green, travelled to England for a match with Chambers, to be rowed on the Thames, from Putney to Mortlake i.e. the Championship Course. The race was the first overseas challenge for the English Championship Title and the stake was £400. Chambers won easily.
Chambers subsequently lost the Championship to Harry Kelley, the Thames sculler, in 1865, in a race held on the Thames. Kelley retired but Chambers then won the title back in an open race with Joseph Sadler
Joseph Sadler
Joseph Henry Sadler was a British professional rower who twice won the World Sculling Championship. Before 1876, the English Sculling Championship was considered to be the premier event in professional sculling...
in 1866. Chambers was defeated by Harry Kelley, (who had come out of retirement) in 1868, in a race held on the Tyne.
For further details of the seven World Title races that Chambers was involved in see World Sculling Championship.
Ill health
By this time his health was in serious decline. In his youth he had worked in an iron foundry, in hot, dirty conditions that may have damaged his lungs. In any case, he had developed tuberculosis. At the time, he was the landlord of the King’s Head pub, St Anthony’s in Newcastle and, in an attempt to improve his health, he briefly moved to Croft SpaCroft-on-Tees
Croft-on-Tees is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. South of Darlington, it stands on the opposite side of the River Tees from Hurworth-on-Tees and is situated on the A167. The bridge over the Tees between Croft and Hurworth marks the boundary...
near Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
. However this was to no avail and he moved back to St Anthony’s, where he died on 4 June 1868, at the age of 37.
He was buried in Walker
Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Walker is a residential suburb and electoral ward just east of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Walker's name is a hybrid of Old English and Viking Norse, "Wall-kjerr", where "kjerr" is Norse for "marshy woodland"...
Churchyard and a magnificent memorial was erected over his grave, showing him in repose, with sculling oar lying alongside him. The memorial, somewhat vandalised, can be seen there today.
At his funeral, one of the mourners was a young sculler called James Renforth
James Renforth
James Renforth was a famous Tyneside professional oarsman. He became the World Sculling Champion in 1868 and was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper and Robert Chambers.-Early history:...
. He would soon take over where Robert Chambers had left off and become equally famous.
External references
- http://www.nerowing.com/rowhist/chambers.html for a timeline of the life of Chambers