From The Yorkshire Evening Press 11th
November 2002
Rowing president dies at club's
dinner
by Evening Press
reporter
THE president of
York City Rowing Club has died at the age of 86, after collapsing at the
annual dinner.
George Lane was among more than 100 diners at the black tie event at
the Merchant Taylors' Hall on Saturday night, when he collapsed.
A Club spokesman
praised paramedics who were at the scene in minutes and worked hard, but
in vain, to save
Mr Lane.
He said club members
were upset and shocked at his death, but decided Mr Lane would not have
wanted it to prevent them celebrating the club's achievements and the
dinner went ahead after a silence and prayers.
He said photographs
of the dinner would be put on their
website,www.york-city-rowing-club.co.uk, dedicated to
Mr Lane's
memory.
"He was a fine man
who will be greatly missed."
Mr Lane, a widower who leaves a son, Tony, lived in Precentor's
Court, near York Minster
He said Mr Lane had
joined the club in 1935 and rowed until after the war, and had
subsequently been treasurer twice, and also wine steward, before becoming
president in 1985, serving in the post for 17 years.
He had been a
quantity surveyor before his retirement. During the war,
he served as a captain in
York's
civil defence, dealing with air raids on the city.
He added that Mr
Lane's death came only a week before the club was to be involved next
Sunday in a major race up the Ouse from Bishopthorpe Palace, the York
Small Boats Head, which would involve 400 competitors.