Plaque

Gilbert Johnstone Boat-House

Inscription

AD 1934
Johnstone Boat House
EMRC
Presented to the Eton Mission Rowing Club by their President Honble. Gilbert Johnstone in memory of his Etonian Wet-Bob brothers, Francis Lord Derwent (Eton 1864 -1869), Honble. Cecil (Eton 1869 -1874) and Honble. Sir Alan Johnstone (Eton 1871 -1877).

This Boat House was given to the Club by Gilbert Johnstone, the youngest of 9 siblings in memory of 3 of his 6 brothers: Francis, Alan and Cecil, who had all died over a 4 year period, and had been 'Etonian Wet-Bob brothers'.  A 2013 article on public school slang in The Spectator explains: "At Eton, a ‘wet bob’ rows; a ‘dry bob’ plays cricket; and ‘slack bobs’ do neither."

Site: Gilbert Johnstone Boat House (1 memorial)

E9, Wallis Road, 127

The first Gilbert Johnstone boathouse was built in 1911 on the east side of the Hackney Cut. In 1934 it was rebuilt in its present location.

From the 2016 Hackney Wick Central Environmental Statement Planning Register: "Gilbert Johnstone Boathouse ... It is associated with St Mary of Eton Church, a mission church set up by privileged Old Etonians to do ‘good works’. It was locally listed by Hackney Council and has been identified for possible local listing by LLDC as the Local Planning Authority. Its significance is primarily historical and evidential, with some aesthetic."

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Gilbert Johnstone Boat-House

Subjects commemorated i

Eton Mission Rowing Club

From Hear the Boat Sing: "EMRC has a fascinating history and was started in t...

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Francis Lord Derwent

Francis Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, 2nd Baron Derwent. Army officer and landowne...

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Sir Alan Johnstone

Diplomat. Attended Eton, 1871-7. See his brother Francis for family informati...

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Cecil Johnstone

Hon. Cecil C. E. Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone. See his brother Francis for family ...

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Eton Mission and Eton Manor Clubs

The private boys school Eton College launched a scheme to provide social and ...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Gilbert Johnstone Boat-House

Created by i

Gilbert Johnstone

Hon. Gilbert Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone. See his brother Francis for family info...

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