Northern Rowing Club

The Northern Rowing Club existed on the Tyne, close to the Meadows or Kings Island.

14th May 1894
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle reported:
The boathouse of this club was formally opened on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, and in every way the occasion was of an auspicious nature. Among those present were to be noticed Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Scott, Messrs. J.B. Radcliffe, Mr. 0.J. Perkins, J. Mackay, Dr. Slitter, H. Taylor, W.J. Metrit, W. Newton, Peter Nelson, James Hunter, R. Lawson, W. Bolton, William Kennedy, Walter Burke, J. Hall. secretary of the Whitley Regatta Committee. The proceedings were inaugurated by Mr. T.J. Forster. who, in presenting Councillor Fitzgerald a silver key wherewith to open the boathouse, expressed his pleasure at being present, as President of the Club, to take part in the afternoon's programme. and hoped that the occasion would be the means of infusing new spirit into local aquatics. He then handed to Councillor Fitzgerald a silver key, specially designed by Messrs. Craig and Co., and beautifully executed , bearing the following design:—Presented to Councillor J. Fitzgerald on the occasion of his opening the Northern Rowing Club boathouse, Newcastle-on-Tyne, May 12th 1894. With this, Councillor Fitzgerald opened the door of the house, and declared the premises open for the season. The company then adjourned to the committee room where Mr. Forster proposed the health of Councillor Fitzgerald and the toast was drunk with much enthusiasm. Mr. J.B. Radcliffe spoke a few words in the history of rowing on the Tyne and expressed the hope that the river might produce in the immediate future a sculler as great as any of the champions of the past. This was succeeded by a procession of boats. This whole affair came off in the heartiest and most successful manner, redacting the greatest credit on Mr. Edge, the secretary, who has worked his hardest to bring about such a result.