22 April 2024
By Thomas Wigley
Thomas Wigley reports about the progress of George Pocock’s plaque, which he wrote about half a year ago.
I note with dismay that it’s now six months since I wrote “Pocock Plaquery” for HTBS to explain how I reached the decision to get a blue plaque for George Pocock erected in Eton. An update is surely in order now that ‘The Film’ is out there. My road to blue plaque heaven has been predictably stony and sinuous but I have at last emerged from the Slough of Despond (a whisker North of Eton) blinking into Spring sunshine, albeit a tad chilly for the time of year here in the Thames Valley.
The elevator summary is that I’m waiting for George’s plaque to be delivered and for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) to give me permission to screw it to the wall of the George Inn in Eton.
A warning to the curious: cantering through a local authority’s approval process hardly makes for gripping copy but I shall strive to sustain your interest!
I’m so close that I can smell the beer, but the George is old and has some interesting architectural features according to Historic England. And they should know. The George is Grade-2 listed so I need ‘Listed Building Consent’ to alter its external appearance. RBWM is currently considering my application and I hope to get permission within two weeks.
George’s plaque is being made by Leander Architectural up in Derbyshire. It’s 15 inches in diameter (38 centimetres for metric wonks), is made from cast aluminium and its design complies with the Royal Borough’s specifications. I enhanced the design slightly by adding ‘floreat etona’ (may Eton flourish) to foster a stronger sense of connection with Eton town.
Checks notes; the local authority is nearly broke, like so many others in Britain. But wait! Two generous benefactors, Eton College and the Windsor and Eton Brewery, agreed without hesitation to fund the plaque. Hoorah! The symmetry is pleasing; George’s dad, Aaron, built boats for Eton College and the brewery manages the George Inn.
Why stony and sinuous? Per The Approval Process, I emailed my blue plaque proposal to the Windsor Museum Service for review on 6th September last year. I eventually got the electronic nod on 19th March this year. To be fair, the Museum team nearly disbanded when the new Council, elected in May this year, gasped at its parlous financial position and sought to save money. Team morale tanked. Then there was a burst pipe at the Museum’s artefact repository.
From the get-go I wanted George Clooney to unveil the plaque but my direct appeal to him and contacts’ back-channels have been unsuccessful. Our local newspaper, the Windsor and Eton Express, got on the case and launched a ‘Where’s George’ campaign when one of its spies spotted Mr. C lunching en famille at the French Horn diner in Sonning-on-Thames close to where he lives. The article led with “I want George to get George on the George”. Hey ho. The offer is still there George!
I have devised a necessarily short and simple unveiling ceremony for George’s plaque involving youth representatives from Windsor and Eton’s rowing clubs; Eton Excelsior RC, Eton College Boat Club and the wondrous (I may be biased), gold and green sculling machine Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club. For London 2012 we were all exhorted to ‘Inspire a Generation’ and our young are the future of any sport. I’d like to think that George P would approve. After all, he showed Eton boys how to row and imparted his rowing philosophies to Washington crews. There are no funds for an elaborate ceremony and I am conflicted. The simplicity of what I have in mind may be considered rather ‘homespun’ and therefore underwhelming for spectators and participants. The jury is out, and I am undecided but watch this HTBS space.
So, when will it happen? I have no unveiling date just yet. I need the plaque in my hands and I need RBWM to say ‘yes’. But, be assured that very soon George Yeomans Pocock will be rightfully commemorated in the home town of his youth, on the building where he lived and only 50 metres from where he worked with his father and brother on the banks of Old Father Thames.
A reminder of Chris Dodd’s HTBS articles on all things Pocock.
- The Wisdom of Pocock 16th February 2022
- Messing about on the River 24th February 2022
- Gordon Bennett! 7th March 2022
- Rowing Boeing 29th March 2022
- Pocock in Berlin: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times 26th May 2022
- Pocock: Playing at Home 15th July 2022
- Pocock 7: Golden Gateway to Helsinki 21st July 2022
- Pocock 8: Searching for Your You of You’s… 15th November 2022
Hear The Boat Sing 