Doggett’s winners, ca. 1960: Harold Green (1924), Eric Lupton (1940), George Gobbett (1913) and Kenneth Collins (1957).
Some days ago, HTBS received an interesting e-mail from Colin Collier in Gravesend. He wanted to say that he was pleased to have come across an entry on HTBS, from 10 June, 2009, where Eric Lupton, the professional sculler was mentioned. Lupton was the 1940 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race winner in a race held in 1947 (as there were no Doggett’s races during the Second World War). Colin writes in his e-mail: ‘Just after the War the Gravesend Regattas were started and I lived then a short distance from the riverside pub The Ship and Lobster – this was the Gravesend centre for professional scullers. My father, who was a Thames Waterman, was involved with the revival and was a friend of Eric Lupton and the Palmer family who were all professional scullers.’
Eric Lupton is mostly famous for racing Eric Phelps (on the left) for the professional European Sculling Championship. First time they met for the championship was in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1950. One of the famous rowing journalists and writers at that time was the Evening Standard’s Hylton Cleaver. He was a good friend of many professional oarsmen and he was involved in setting up the first meeting between the two Erics. On a website run by Lupton’s grandson, Nigel, you can read a letter of 25 April, 1950 that Cleaver wrote to Eric Lupton, here.
Phelps won the title in 1950 time, but lost it in 1954 to Lupton, who became the last European Professional Sculling Champion. To continue with Colin’s e-mail: ‘Eric Lupton was aided in his training by Dan Blackman who went to Germany with Eric [Lupton], who lost to Eric Phelps. When they [later] raced at Gravesend, I saw the whole race in Palmer’s motor boat which was following [the race]. I was 15 years old at that time, and I had started sculling myself which was known as “best boat rowing” locally. My boat was called Squeak which was originally owned by another Waterman, George Morgan.’ And Colin adds: ‘what memories you have stirred.’
How did it then go with Colin’s own sculling career? He writes: ‘I subsequently had a accident and dislocated my elbow which finished my sculling activities.’ Colin goes on by saying, ‘Interestingly, I applied to join the Gravesend Rowing Club, I was an apprenticed engineer and was told I could not join because I was an artisan.’ Colin finishes his e-mail by saying: ‘Eric Lupton and I had been good friends ever since he lived near me and he passed away about four years ago.’
There is a 1950 race report from the German rowing magazine Rudern here (in an English Google translation!)
My warmest thanks to Colin for sharing this exiting information!
Hear The Boat Sing 
Interesting article. However, Phelps I believe did not row after 1951. There was a challenge match at the Gravesend Regatta in 1951 but Phelps, although turning up did not row (had a cold); he put his British Championship Shield up for the race winner. Three men competed, Jack Anson, Eric Lupton & George Palmer; they finished in that order ! I too watched the whole race from a following boat.
Pleased to report that I am in process of restoring Eric Lupton’s sculling blades given to me by friends at Gravesend Rowing Club for my prototype sculling-sailing Oxford punt conversion which is nearing completion at workspace by Donnington Bridge in Oxford. The punt base was made by Salters Steamers in 1987. I am wondering why Lupton sculled light blue colours.
By the way, thank you for information regarding Eric Phelps (who taught my father to scull after WW2 at Putney). I was under impression that Lupton beat Phelps.
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Jack Anson’s son Greg still has the shield at his home
I’m John Eric Lupton,eldest son of Eric George Lupton,I don’t know what John Mason is talking about,I was also there I was about seven years old I also watched the race and I have 2 Photos at the finish where my Father was shaking hands with Eric Phelps.
Sounds like a different race to me !
John it would be interesting to hear from you on how your father returned to rowing in the 80s and allowed to return as an amateur after being a professional
Just to clarify, I think you’ll find that Lupton beat Phelps in 1950 at the Gravesend Regatta in a challenge for the European title. The following year is as I have said previously, when Phelps conceded his British title to whoever won the race but did not row; Lupton decided not to risk his European title (wisely as it turned out) in the challenge race.