William Giles East, Doggett winner and King’s Bargemaster

Repro ID: H5456

Description: Photograph of William Giles East wearing the Doggett’s Coat and Badge, which he had won in 1887. He was born at Lambeth in 1866, and was apprenticed to Jimmy Rise of Richmond in 1882. That year he won the Putney Badge, in 1891 he won the sculling championship of England, and became a Queen’s Waterman in 1898. On June 22 1906 he was appointed Bargemaster to the King. He became well known on the river; he rowed stroke in the winning Champion Fours in the National Regattas of 1890 and 1891 and also won Champion Pairs, coached sculling and kept the Prince’s Head and later the Pigeon Hotel at Richmond.

Creator: unknown

Date: 1906

Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London