Ian Welsh

Ian Welsh was one of Britain’s leading oarsmen in the mid-1950s, having achieved significant successes at Henley, in the Boat Race and represented Great Britain at both the European Championships and Olympic Games. Welsh learned his rowing at Shrewsbury School, competing in their 1950 and 1951 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup crews at Henley. After completing his National Service in the Parachute Regiment in October 1953, Welsh went to Queens’ College, Cambridge to read law & economics. The college had a strong rowing squad and won the Ladies’ Plate at Henley in 1955.

Welsh was awarded his rowing Blue in 1956 and rowed in the winning Cambridge Boat Race crew. Also that year, he was in the Great Britain eight at the European Championships at Bled, and at the Melbourne Olympics, where they were eliminated in the first round repêchage. In 1958 Welsh was a leading figure in an attempt to put together Leander crews for that year’s Commonwealth Games. He coached the Cambridge boat race crews between 1964-66.

Welsh qualified as an accountant and upon his retirement moved to the North Norfolk coast and devoted himself to sailing in various boats, exploring the numerous creeks and inlets of Blakeney Harbour.