John Bawden – A Tribute

John was one of the gentlemen that met in Ralph Bird’s living room in December 1986 and helped form the CPGA. 

He was a former standards office and area rep for the CPGA, a trustee of Newquay RC, a Newquay Champs – starter, finisher, umpire, umpire boat skipper, as well as a winner on the water rowing. These are just a few of the roles throughout his busy life in the gig world. 

Many standard team visits had entertainment value with stories of their own. On a trip to Bristol to measure two gigs under construction having completed the task, John, Ralph and Tony Jago decided to visit the SS Great Britain. They had the cards that required stamps to be collected on their tour round the ship, they were like children racing to see who could get the card completed first!

At Newquay Champs John was ever present. As a starter, the flag always tipped back and you knew he was about to let the race go. An umpire and boat skipper and a fixer of anything that broke. As well as checking in on everyone; the ladies under the rowing club preparing and serving food, the admin team including making sure that his four legged friends over the years had the end of his pasty. John chatted with Ted and Digger on a Sunday lunchtime during champs, an ever present character. 

John often brought a smile to peoples faces with his quick wit. In the days when the champs draw was done by pulling crews, boats and berths from the bags he would often chirp up when a certain boat was pulled, ‘Fear Not…said he for mighty dread’, ‘Hark Hark the Lark’ to name a few. 

There are so many stories from so many people that will be told with smiles, tears and laughter over the coming weeks, months and years to come. The one thing that we can be sure of is that John Bawden played a huge part in the CPGA, Newquay RC and the gig world in general and he will certainly not be forgotten.