Kenny Dwan
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Victor Dwan is a former British rower
who competed in the Olympic Games in 1968 and 1972 and won the Wingfield Sculls six times.
Dwan was born in Rotherhithe
, London to a family of lightermen
in the Port of London
. He joined Poplar Blackwall and District Rowing Club
at the age of 12 initially as a cox but soon as an oarsman. When he was 15 he was apprenticed as lighterman to his grandfather Williams and this allowed him to enter the novice sculls in the National Dock Labour Board (NDLB) regatta at Putney. He won the race which included contestants of that year’s Doggett's Coat and Badge
Race. While he was sculling he continued working as a lighterman and worked for Humphrey & Grey starting as a boy in the tug Sir John. After two year with Humphrey & Grey he obtained his lighterman’s licence and went on the dock labour pool to experience a variety of firms. During 1967 the decasualisation scheme following Devlin
’s report was implemented and all dock workers had to be allocated to an employer. Dwan was allocated to F.T. Everard at Greenhithe, of whom he said “The management were very good to me in allowing me time to train. I could not have wished for better employers”.
In 1968 Dwan was runner-up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls
at Henley Royal Regatta
. He also competed for Great Britain in the single scull
in the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico. He reached the final and came 6th overall. Also in 1968 he won the Wingfield Sculls for the first time. He won the WIngfield Sculls again in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972. In 1972 he competed again for Great Britain in the single scull in the Summer Olympics in Munich
when he came 9th. Dwan was runner up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls in 1974 and won the Wingfield Sculls for the sixth time in 1975.
In 1977 Dwan was accepted as one of Royal Watermen during the Queen’s Jubilee Year. Dwan continued to work as a lighterman, but with severance at the docks, he decided to work for himself and withdrew from lighterage and rowing at the same time. For a while he worked on the building of the Thames Barrier
, and then on pleasure boats on the River Thames
. He then went into business with Bill Ludgrove and set up their own company Thames Cruises. The business grew and they bought a repair yard at Eel Pie Island
. Thames Cruises owned the pleasure boat Marchioness which was sunk with loss of life in the Marchioness disaster
when the pleasure boat collided with a dredger ""Bowbelle" in August 1989. The disaster was found by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch
to have been caused by the poor visibility from each ship's wheelhouse
, the fact that both vessels were using the centre of the river, and that no clear instructions were given to the look-out at the bow of the Bowbelle. Twelve years later another report by Lord Clarke also blamed poor lookouts on both vessels for the collision and criticised the owners and managers of both vessels for failing to properly instruct and monitor their crews. In 2004 Dwan was appointed Queen's Bargemaster
, being responsible for the safety of the Queen when she travelled by water. However in the light of protests because of his involvement with the Marchioness disaster, he resigned.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed in the Olympic Games in 1968 and 1972 and won the Wingfield Sculls six times.
Dwan was born in Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
, London to a family of lightermen
Lightermen
Lightermen were workers who transferred goods between ships and quays, aboard flat-bottomed barges called lighters in the Port of London.-History:...
in the Port of London
Port of London
The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. Once the largest port in the world, it is currently the United Kingdom's second largest port, after Grimsby & Immingham...
. He joined Poplar Blackwall and District Rowing Club
Poplar Blackwall and District Rowing Club
Poplar Blackwall and District Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club, on the River Thames in England. It is situated on the northern bank of the Thames opposite Greenwich on the Isle of Dogs....
at the age of 12 initially as a cox but soon as an oarsman. When he was 15 he was apprenticed as lighterman to his grandfather Williams and this allowed him to enter the novice sculls in the National Dock Labour Board (NDLB) regatta at Putney. He won the race which included contestants of that year’s Doggett's Coat and Badge
Doggett's Coat and Badge
Doggett's Coat and Badge is the prize and name for the oldest rowing race in the world. Up to six apprentice Watermen of the River Thames in England compete for this prestigious honour, which has been held every year since 1715. The 4 miles 5 furlongs race is held on the Thames between London...
Race. While he was sculling he continued working as a lighterman and worked for Humphrey & Grey starting as a boy in the tug Sir John. After two year with Humphrey & Grey he obtained his lighterman’s licence and went on the dock labour pool to experience a variety of firms. During 1967 the decasualisation scheme following Devlin
Patrick Devlin, Baron Devlin
Patrick Arthur Devlin, Baron Devlin, PC was a British lawyer, judge and jurist. He wrote a report on Britain's involvement in Nyasaland in 1959...
’s report was implemented and all dock workers had to be allocated to an employer. Dwan was allocated to F.T. Everard at Greenhithe, of whom he said “The management were very good to me in allowing me time to train. I could not have wished for better employers”.
In 1968 Dwan was runner-up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls
Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. He also competed for Great Britain in the single scull
Single scull
A single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....
in the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico. He reached the final and came 6th overall. Also in 1968 he won the Wingfield Sculls for the first time. He won the WIngfield Sculls again in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972. In 1972 he competed again for Great Britain in the single scull in the Summer Olympics in Munich
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
when he came 9th. Dwan was runner up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls in 1974 and won the Wingfield Sculls for the sixth time in 1975.
In 1977 Dwan was accepted as one of Royal Watermen during the Queen’s Jubilee Year. Dwan continued to work as a lighterman, but with severance at the docks, he decided to work for himself and withdrew from lighterage and rowing at the same time. For a while he worked on the building of the Thames Barrier
Thames Barrier
The Thames Barrier is the world's second-largest movable flood barrier and is located downstream of central London. Its purpose is to prevent London from being flooded by exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the sea...
, and then on pleasure boats on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. He then went into business with Bill Ludgrove and set up their own company Thames Cruises. The business grew and they bought a repair yard at Eel Pie Island
Eel Pie Island
Eel Pie Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Twickenham, in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London. It is situated on the Tideway and can be reached only by footbridge or boat...
. Thames Cruises owned the pleasure boat Marchioness which was sunk with loss of life in the Marchioness disaster
Marchioness disaster
The Marchioness disaster occurred on the River Thames in London in the early hours of 20 August 1989. The pleasure boat Marchioness sank after being run down by the dredger Bowbelle, near Cannon Street Railway Bridge. There were 131 people on the Marchioness. Some were members of the crew, some...
when the pleasure boat collided with a dredger ""Bowbelle" in August 1989. The disaster was found by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Marine Accident Investigation Branch
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch established in 1989 following the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster is a branch of the United Kingdom Department for Transport which can investigate any accident occurring in UK waters, regardless of the nationality of the vessel involved, and accidents...
to have been caused by the poor visibility from each ship's wheelhouse
Wheelhouse
Wheelhouse or Wheel-house may refer to a number of topicsIn nautical context*The location of the steering wheel of a boat or ship**Bridge **Pilothouse...
, the fact that both vessels were using the centre of the river, and that no clear instructions were given to the look-out at the bow of the Bowbelle. Twelve years later another report by Lord Clarke also blamed poor lookouts on both vessels for the collision and criticised the owners and managers of both vessels for failing to properly instruct and monitor their crews. In 2004 Dwan was appointed Queen's Bargemaster
Queen's Bargemaster
The King's/Queen's Bargemaster is a subordinate officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Until the mid-19th century, the Royal family frequently used the River Thames for, but the role is now largely ceremonial...
, being responsible for the safety of the Queen when she travelled by water. However in the light of protests because of his involvement with the Marchioness disaster, he resigned.