Tony Short: A Tribute from Lyme Regis Gig Club

Thanks to Marcus Dixon for this heartfelt tribute to Lyme Regis Gig Club member Tony Short.

Tony joined the Club in 2008, shortly after its inception and from that moment his commitment, energy, sense of humour, adventure, camaraderie and sportsmanship were in many ways the life blood of the Club.

Tony rowed in all the major regattas representing the Club over many years and was an outstanding and much respected Men’s Captain. Tony was Vice Captain when we achieved our best World Pilot Gig result of 14th in the Scillies and 9th in the 3 Rivers Race. Tony also trained hard participating in circuits at Uplyme Village Hall and ergo sessions, which he loathed.

Tony was a great coxswain always keen to get as many people racing as possible and as soon as a crew was successful, he was already looking for new rowers to fast-track to up competitive pressure. Tony’s twin sons Cam and Ben, both former serious rugby players joined the Club in 2009 when they also moved to Dorset.

Tony understood men and motivated them to get the best out of themselves. His supportive method was a quiet, logical and personal approach and with a few careful words he was able to keep egos in check. No easy task.

Tony was a member of the four-man crew from Lyme Regis Gig Club who rowed the gruelling 2500 nautical miles from the Canary Islands to Barbados in the 2011 Talisker Challenge in 48 days. Raising money for charity, the crew of Tony, Derby, Elliot, Brian and Andrew who supported from ashore came in sixth out of 17 teams. Tony at 67 was the oldest team rower in the event, and the Lyme crew notched up the oldest combined ages of those taking part.

Tony loved a pint with his mates and a day’s racing could be considered over when Tony lit his cigar. He organised Otter Brewery tours which were always a good night out. As well as the memorable parties at the Power Boat Club that the old sweats may remember. Particularly the very dangerous warm rum punch concoction Tony brought to the Val Halla night and his Nelson’s Blood spiced rum that nearly scuppered so many of us at the Trafalgar Night celebration.

Tony was in the crew on the start-line at one of the dragon-boat races in Sherbourne we went to as a Club. The boat next to Lyme was full of young, lean, fit, mean Royal Marines, who spotted Tony and noted his grey beard, calling him Uncle Albert. Tony just kept quiet and gave them one of his knowing smiles. The start gun went off, there was a flurry of desperate paddling alongside, but at the end Lyme was a full boat length ahead and the Marines who were much less cocky.

When the Club was building the Maintenance Shed up at The Tunnel, after the main shell was up and after the enthusiasm of most people had waned. Tony, who had previously been a builder, took it on himself to complete the majority of the timber cladding and would often be up there alone just getting on with it with a handsaw and a hammer. When Dan suggested he used an electric saw or nail gun, Tony would shake his head and smile, preferring as he said to ‘build up a sweat and some hard work’.

Henry has a great memory from a certain regatta where Tony was late for his race. Tony hurriedly picked up his crocs and ran down the beach to join his waiting crew and get into the gig which was ready to go. Tony threw his Crocs in and rowed out barefoot to the start line but when he went to put them on he’d picked up a child’s pair and they were about 4 sizes too small. He got some ribbing for that!

I hope this tribute to Tony gives a brief insight into what a good guy he was and how he helped shape Lyme Regis Gig Club to become what it is today. He was great, he’ll be very much missed by many and the world seems a smaller place without him.

Photo credit: Debbie Hunt

Thanks to Lyme Regis Gig Club for the photos.