Pauline Rayner MBE (1940 – 2024)

Thames Rowing Club is very sorry to announce the death at the age of 83 of club president Pauline Rayner MBE, after an illness. 

Pauline was a member of Thames RC for over 40 years, and the club’s first female captain, chair and president.  

Pauline first took up rowing aged 13 at Alpha Women’s Amateur Rowing Club in Chiswick and started racing almost immediately, competing in her first Women’s Eights Head of the River Race (WEHORR) just before her 14th birthday. She represented Great Britain at the 1960 European Rowing Championships. 

In 1983 Pauline joined Thames RC, and quickly became an integral part of the club. As a teacher she was key to building the rowing programme at Putney High School, running the squad out of Thames and later Barn Elms Boat House for a time and teaching many young women to row. Later on she coached the Thames novice squad for many years, imparting her rowing wisdom firmly and honestly. 

At the same time Pauline kept up her own rowing career, winning hundreds of veteran medals at events in the UK and worldwide. Until recently she rarely missed competing in WEHORR, and was fond of putting together carefully selected crews for Veteran Fours Head of the River and the Vesta Veterans Head – often with great success and another pennant to add to her considerable collection. She also held indoor rowing records during her career, which lasted well into her 70s.  

Pauline was elected as captain of Thames in 1990 and served until 1993; she then took over as the club chair between 2001 and 2009, and also served as membership secretary for many years. She was made club president in 2019. During her time on the club committee Pauline played a major role in managing and fundraising for the construction of a new gym, opened in 2005. She was awarded an MBE in 2007 for services to sport. 

Pauline also looked after the simpler needs of the club, cooking athlete meals for a time and for many, many years running the weekend refreshments table – including baking huge trays of delectable flapjacks, which were devoured by hungry rowers.  

The club was delighted in 2019 to name a new women’s eight in Pauline’s honour and the shell has since recorded several wins, including back-to-back wins in the Copas Cup for club eights at Henley Women’s Regatta. The 2023 crew were thrilled that Pauline was able to witness the victory in person.  

Pauline was also able to attend Henley Royal Regatta in July 2023 to see three Thames victories, including the second win in the club women’s event, the Wargrave Challenge Cup, and celebrated those again at the annual dinner in late November. It was a delight for all that she was able to be at both events. 

Pauline’s contribution to the club cannot be underestimated, and she will be remembered fondly and missed hugely by all.