Henry Alvey

Henry Alvey was a member of the Great Britain coxed fours crew at the 1924 Olympics, but was a non-starter. A fellow member of that crew was Jack Townend, who was also a member of the Weybridge Rowing Club eights that won the Oxford Cup at the Oxford Royal Regatta in August 1926. On the way home from the Regatta, Alvey was involved in an unfortunate accident, which resulted in the death of Townend.

Having celebrated their victory in Oxford, Townend and other members of the Weybridge Club headed home in a privately hired bus, while Alvey followed behind in his car. Townend and some other members of the club were on the open-top deck of the bus when Townend fell over the side and onto the road. It was impossible for Alvey to stop and he hit his team-mate, and Townend died a few hours later from a fractured skull. The inquest eventually recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Despite that sad event, Alvey enjoyed some rowing highs, and amongst them was being stroke to the Barnes and District RC that won the 1932 Desborough Cup, which was the fifth Desborough of his career. In 1933-34 Alvey was vice-captain of the Barnes Club. By occupation, he was a joiner.