Gordon Tilley - Coxwain
Nominator: Frank W Graham, Sports Archivist
Gordon Tilley was born at the Battery in St John's , Newfoundland ,July 26th, 1926 entering the world just in time for the St John's Annual Regatta which was held on August 5th of that year.
He grew up at the BATTERY in St John's East and as a youth first found employment with the St John's Curling club then located along with its sister facility, the Prince's rink in that area lying directly to the rear of Hotel Newfoundland at Fort William.
In 1941 a disastrous fire razed both the Prince's rink and the St John's Curling rink, a circumstance which was to deprive young Tilley of gainful employment. Early in the Spring of 1942 and still unemployed he began to frequent the boat house at Quidi Vidi lake as crews prepared to practice for the St John's Regatta of that year. He ultimately found employment as a general helper at the boat house through the good offices of the Boat-House committee. He was engaged as a helper in building wharves and slips for the racing shells.His work day began at 6.00 o'clock each morning as practice sessions for crews invariably started at that time. It was a tired young fellow who called it a day at 10.00 p.m and sometimes later on each of those such days.
By June in each Regatta year practice sessions are in full swing by early June and the boat house becomes a hive of activity with crews turning up at all hours throughout the day from early morning until late at night to take their turns on the lake fro practice sessions. It was not unusual for crews to arrive at lakeside only to find that a coxwain was unavailable to take them over the course. By then young Gordon had become much of a fixture around the boat house. A personable and obliging young man, he became very popular with the boat house staff and particularly the oarsmen. he found that coxwainless crews began pressing him to take the tiller ropes. Thus began a pattern which saw young Gordon -when freed from his boat house chores taking to the pond as a 'Fill in' or substitute coxwain when the more experienced pond pilots were unavailable.
The Regatta committee of that distant day soon realized that the young fellow who was hired as a boat-house helper was performing an essential service as a substitute coxwain. They forthwith decided that his role as volunteer coxwain should become a part of his work-load and he should accordingly be compensated for that additional work. Thus began for Gordon Tilley an assignment which saw him at the boat house before 6.00 a.m. as crews began practicing for St. John's annual aquatic classic and making himself available to be of service in a coxwain capacity until darkness set in at night.In view of the length of time he spent on the pond, in steering crews observing their performances and familiarizing himself with the quirks of pond conditions. He became a quiet but unassuming authority on the capabilities of various crews and their prospects in races. He carefully husbanded the knowledge thus gained to be employed later as, if, and when he became lucky enough to be accepted as a fully approved coxwain with permission to take the tiler ropes in a race on Regatta day itself.
Like most individuals who step into a racing shell at Quidi Vidi lake Gordon Tilley served his apprenticeship as an oarsman. As a youth, he stroked the East End St Joseph's Club crew in the Intermediate race in the Regatta of 1946. It is of interest to note that the late Jack Kenney, who is a member of the Regatta Hall of Fame, was that crew's coxwain. Their boat the Nellie R finished second. The following year and again in the Intermediate race but now stroking a Battery crew, success again evaded effort, Tilley repeated with a second place finish. Thus began and ended Gordon Tilley's career as as oarsman. It was possible the aforementioned Jack Kenny was responsible for Gordon setting his sights on becoming a bona fide Regatta coxwain.
Such a goal was an ambition not easily realized. The coxwains of the Forties consisted of a group of individuals who were self assured and equally self important and self sufficient in attitude. They were 'monarchs of all they surveyed'. They were a close-knit group selfishly resenting newcomers anxious to gain their closed circle. The system obliged would-be coxwains to 'wait their turn'. It seemed if only death could create a vacancy in their ranks. Gordon Tilley had the unhappy experience of being a victim of that system of going 'hat in hand' to get coxwain approval and acceptance. Despite his four years of apprenticeship as an aspiring Coxwain spending, over that period and spending, hours beyond number on the waters of Quidi Vidi from day-light to dark, he failed to gain recognition. No Horatio Alger hero had to contend with such selfishness or hardness of heart.
In 1941 the American military forces established a base at Fort Pepperrell in St John's. Through wholehearted support and active participation in our annual Regatta from 1942 onward they were to add a new dimension to the event. Not surprisingly in view of Gordon Tilley's close association with both men and ladies crews representing Pepperrell, particularly in sharing his knowledge of both oarsmanship and as a coxwain with both (understandably inexperienced) groups he became a very popular figure. His services were much in demand.
Inevitably it would be his association with the Americans which would bring about a favorable change in his finally gaining acceptance as a duly qualified coxwain. The Americans at Fort Pepperrell chose him to steer their M & S. crew in the annual St John's Regatta of 1950. His charges won the American services race in the Freedom in 12:03. He had one further race on that year's program -the Juvenile- which earned him a second place finish. It was an inauspicious beginning to what would turn out to be a phenomenal career. However he was on his way.
Gordon Tilley's 25 years of achievement as Coxwain.
It is all too apparent from the comprehensive list of races in which Gordon Tilley participated as a coxwain for one quarter of a century (1950-1974) and his resulting achievements that his record is one of meritorious accomplishment. In his capacity as a Regatta coxwain, covering 25 years of active association with each and every annual Regatta over that period he carried off 72 First place finishes including two Regatta championships. In the years 1966 and 1977. Throughout his lengthy career as well, he participated in 100 races. In that race schedule he appeared in the winners circle 50% of the time with the remaining 50% of races contested mostly second place finishes. As his career wound to its close he realized the ultimate in recognition for an aspiring coxwain who found it so difficult to gain recognition and acceptance, he was honored with the Presidency of the Coxwain's Association.
His feats of endurance as a participating Coxwain
In what must be regarded as a series of feats of patient endurance qualifying him as the most dedicated and unquestionably the best tiller man of his era. He, in the years 1961,1962 and 1963 steered ten crews on the 16-race program of those years. The record shows that he won 50% of those races. In 1965 and again involved in the 16-race card of that year he must have spent the entire day in a racing shell on Quidi Vidi lake for he coxwained 11 crews at that Regatta.
S U M M A R Y
In Summary it is felt that the embroidery of this written text in support of Gordon Tilley's nomination for induction into the Regatta Hall of Fame says very little to further his cause to that end. Far more effective hard cold facts in support of his nomination are reflected in his track record as shown in detail on the seven supporting lists of race participations and race victories.
The attention of the Board of Governors and its Selection committee is respectfully invited to a review of the phenomenal career of Nominee Gordon Tilley whose capabilities as an outstanding Coxwain are ably matched by his gentlemanly qualities.