LMBC Bicentenary Celebrations

We’ve long had the backing of a dedicated core group of enthusiastic alumni, and we know that many more Johnians have fond Maggie memories from their student days. Having gathered views from our current crews, and from recent and not-so-recent graduates, we’ve formed a steering committee who have helped to shape and endorse a programme of events to make 2025 a truly memorable ‘Year of Rowing’ at St John’s.

Save the date

Details to be confirmed in the new year…

Head of the Cam, 26 April 2025
Alumni crews participating and a birthday party at the Boathouse

May Bumps, 18–21 June 2025
Cheering on LMBC crews from the banks of the Cam

Boat Club drinks and dinner, 21 June 2025
Celebratory drinks and dinner in College

Henley Royal Regatta, 1–6 July 2025
Row-past and get-together – day tbc

Alumni dinner in College, 13 September 2025
A reunion dinner in College. Invitations for the dinner will be sent out in May, along with accommodation information.

Our new alumni club

Current students are especially keen on this anniversary creating the opportunity to reconnect alumni with St John’s rowing and with each other. To mark the bicentenary, therefore, we are reviving the Lady Somerset Boat Club to become the exclusive College alumni community for all former members of LMBC. The Lady Somerset Boat Club has existed at various times as the second boat club of the College, as a long vacation boat club, in social media communities and as an alumni boat club. We’re bringing it back into the Maggie fold as the exclusive channel to keep alumni up to date with current LMBC news, to share their own alumni rowing stories, to flag where we’d benefit from more coaching support from alumni and, of course, to look back at LMBC’s glorious past. Having this dedicated community for former rowers will widen and deepen our connections with you and, we hope, your connections with each other. It will give Maggie alumni the opportunity to form crews and compete as part of the St John’s and LMBC family, which some of our former rowers are keen to see – especially our more recent graduates. As part of the bicentenary, we’ve commissioned a beautiful new rendering of Lady Somerset’s crest to sit alongside our familiar and famous Lady Margaret emblem and, fear not, there is no shortage of scarlet!

A 200-year boost to the future of rowing at John’s  

Of course, the bicentenary creates a once in a generation chance to boost the financial support for rowing at St John’s, ensuring it flourishes for at least another 200 years. The Bicentenary Committee will provide more details about their fundraising campaign later this term along with information about how LMBC is financed on an ongoing basis. From kit, coaching and training camps through to big ideas for refurbishing or transforming the Boathouse, there’s no shortage of ideas to create a genuine bicentenary legacy and keep Maggie the epitome of rowing excellence and enjoyment.