Ustinov Boat Club
Graduate Society Boat Club was formed in 1974 through the efforts of Gill Foulger and continued for over 40 years as a relatively small (in terms of membership numbers) club until 2011. In November 2004 the club changed its name to Ustinov Boat Club. The oarblade was white with a black edge and the singlet white with a globe.
Gill came to Durham to take a one year postgraduate degree in Geophysics in 1974, having spent 3 years "messing around in boats on the Cam", she quickly discovered that the Wear was a long way from the lecture theatres and proceeded to successfully corrupt a dozen or so of her colleagues. Undaunted by the fact that the Graduate Society had no boat club or equipment, they exploited the generosity of other colleges and commenced their activities. By December, Gradsoc could muster a respectable representation in college bumps with three crews.
The club went on to sweep the board at the Graduate Society Regatta and were given £250 to squander on equipment! A couple of old fours were bought for a hundred pounds or so and they have been kicking about Durham for longer than is usual. Gill attributes that to the fact that any respectable club would hotly deny ownership of the kind of equipment that is the norm for Gradsoc!
The membership turnover was rapid (an inevitable result of many of their members being registered for 1 year Master’s degrees). However, the
club can boast two National championships silver medals and subsequent selection of those members to represent England (Home Countries Int. 1977, Women’s coxed fours).
The boat club applied to the Amateur Rowing Association to officially change its name to Ustinov Boat Club (UBC) in 2004. The name change was considered necessary in order to reflect the college name change. GSBC officially became UBC on Tuesday the 9th of November 2004.
The club has owned a few boats: "Captain Pugwash" (succumbed to the Bonfire Night celebrations in 2022), "Mrs. Robinson", "Durham County", "Gyda" and the double scull "Double Jeopardy".
More recently, Ustinov College partnered up with Grey College Boat Club to allow eager "Ustinovians" to continue to participate in rowing activities.
Graduate Society winners at the Tyne LDS 1994 (Iwan Jones, Richard Mortimer, Karen McGaul)
Grad Soc competing at the 1993 Northern Universities Regatta
Grad Soc competing at the 1994 Durham City Regatta
Grad Soc competing at the 1994 Durham City Regatta
Sad to see, but the Grad Soc boat 'Captain Pugwash' awaiting disposal in 2022
