In addition to being a world rowing champion eight times, Tyneside born and bred Harry Clasper designed the boats used in today’s Olympics and Oxbridge boat race and trained fellow world champions, including Walker-based Robert Chambers.
From leading his team of brothers to their first world title on the Thames in 1845, Harry became a local, national and international star.
Prior to football, rowing was the sport of the working class. The Geordie anthem The Blaydon Races was written for Harry and, when he died in 1870 aged only 58, 130,000 people packed the streets of Newcastle to pay their final respects.
Hadaway Harry, written by Ed Waugh, will transfer to Newcastle Theatre Royal in February. Ed’s talk has been organised by the Heaton History Group and will take place at the Corner House pub, Heaton, Newcastle, on Wednesday, September 28, at 7.30pm.
Seats, limited to 50, must be booked via maria@heatonhistorygroup.org or call 07443 594154.