Parents, pupils and teachers flocked to the River Wye for a spectacular evening of rowing to celebrate the sport at Monmouth School for Girls.

The new Chair of Friends of Monmouth School for Girls, Maxine Smiles Cooke, christened an outstanding, new Haberdashers’ Friends II boat in glorious weather on Friday 20th September.

The evening was a big success with a host of teaching staff, some of whom had never rowed before, coached on land and then water by pupils.

School Chaplain, Rev Clifford Swartz, a keen rower himself, blessed the impressive new boat.

Headmistress, Mrs Jessica Miles, gave thanks to the Friends of the school and parents for funding the new boat, and to the coaches for their hard work and dedication.

Mrs Miles said: “It was fantastic to see so many girls and Mrs Kate Callaghan (Head of Rowing at Monmouth School for Girls) said there had been 75 girls this week wanting to try out rowing or to continue with their rowing.

“I know how much enjoyment I got from rowing when I was a student and, before tonight, I hadn’t been in a rowing boat for around 35 years and it was a wonderful experience.”

She added that the ‘Bring a Teacher to Rowing’ session earlier in the evening had been fun, very well supported and superbly delivered by the pupils.

“It was wonderful to see the girls telling us what to do,” said Mrs Miles.

“It was great to see the girls in a position of taking control and being in such command and I know that other members of staff felt that too.”

A special presentation was made to Miss Briana Williams, a huge asset to the boarding community and to the school rowing club during her 14 months in Monmouth.

Miss Williams will now be returning to Loughborough University this week to complete the final year of her Sport Science degree.