BROTHER AND SCHOOL PAY TRIBUTE TO ROBERT THE ROWER

Kingston Grammar School has given the honour of its first ergo machine dedicated to a former student to the late Robert Allen – the inspiration behind the creation of the RALPHH charity.

Housed in the gymnasium at the Thames Ditton Boathouse, the Concept 2 Rowing machine has recently been acquired by the School and joins a strong array of practice equipment, supplementing coaching on the water and land. 

To mark this milestone Robert’s brother Laurence (left) attended an unveiling with Ed Green, Director of Rowing at the School and to see the plaque carried on the equipment.  

As well as being a senior prefect, Robert achieved national rowing honours at KGS. These included being the stroke in a coxed four winning crew in the National Schools Championship and taking the same position in a larger eight in a junior international for Great Britain against France over the Henley course. After his time on the water he continued to be involved over several years as a respected member of the KGS coaching team.  

Supported by family, friends and his former school the Robert Allen Life Promotion and Health Hearts Trust (RALPHH) has been in existence for almost six years. Over this period over 50 defibrillators have been gifted or part-funded for rowing clubs and schools that offer rowing, as well as other exerting sports, where additional preparation for the potentially tragic unexpected might occur. The charity has also been supportive of British Rowing over the last three years with sponsorship of a cardiac testing programme each March at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham, where national junior trials for the British squad take place.   

Laurence, who himself represented Kingston Grammar School in sports including rowing, has made a major input into the development of what has become a national charity, adding to the voluntary efforts of the trustees.

Named in honour of the playwright R C Sherriff, the attractive KGS Boathouse sits on the bank of the River Thames, almost opposite Hampton Court Palace. Sherriff – a former pupil of the School, and the writer of the landmark play Journey’s End – left a legacy to KGS on his death and was keen to see rowing prosper.   

Plaque Dedication