28 JULY 1939, Page 6

The death of Mr. W. H. Eyre removes one of

the great oarsmen of—I was going to say this generation, but actually it was almost the generation before last, for Eyre was 91 when he died last Saturday, and he began rowing at Henley in 1870 or earlier. In course of time he won almost every- thing there was to win there. He was full of vigour till some three weeks ago, but had for many years been almost com- pletely deaf, and, like many deaf people, had no idea how loud he was talking. He was extremely generous, and if all conversation in the dining-room at his Pall Mall club was suddenly drowned by a voice that would carry to St. Paul's, it would be Eyre whispering to the waiter, " rm not sup- posed to tip you, but if you look under the plate you'll find something for you."