West Norfolk rowing club to feature in TV documentary
King's Lynn Coastal Rowing Club (KLCRC) will be given national recognition in a new historical TV documentary. Picture: Julian Kirk - Credit: Julian Kirk
A West Norfolk rowing club will be given national recognition in a new historical TV documentary.
The Lynn Rewet rowing boat belonging to the King's Lynn Coastal Rowing Club (KLCRC) will feature in a historical documentary. Picture: Julian Kirk - Credit: Julian Kirk
The focus of the documentary will be on Norwich's past during the Tudor era and will feature TV presenter and anthropologist professor Alice Roberts.
King's Lynn Coastal Rowing Club (KLCRC) were approached by the film crew who took an interest in their hand-crafted St Ayles skiffs.
The four-oared rowing boats follow a similar design to Fair Isle skiffs, a traditional style of small fishing vessels descended from the Viking age.
'The reason they came to us was because our skiffs look quite ancient, the design is over 100 years old,' said KLCRC PR secretary Julian Kirk.
KLCRC members were joined by tv presenter Alice Roberts and film crew to shoot parts of the documentary on the River Wensum. Picture: Julian Kirk - Credit: Julian Kirk
'They wanted something looking as close as possible to Tudor boats.
'Alice Roberts was very interested in our boats, she does kayaking herself.'
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On Sunday, September 24, club members and film crew boarded the Lynn Rewet for a cruise on the River Wensum at Bishop Gate bridge in Norwich to film parts of the documentary.
Mr Kirk said the bridge is steeped with history and played a significant role during the 13th century.
The KLCRC rowing skiff will feature in a documentary looking at the historical significance of Norwich during the Tudor era. Picture: Julian Kirk - Credit: Julian Kirk
'It is where witches were dragged and burned at the stake,' Mr Kirk added. 'There was a lot of blood letting around there.'
But despite its gruesome past the bridge proved to be the ideal location to show off the city's picturesque landscape.
Alice Roberts even took to the oars in the sunny afternoon and rowed the club's Lynn Rewet boat herself whilst being filmed from a drone.
The makeshift river-based film set attracted a lot of attention from punters in a nearby pub.
Mr Kirk said: 'It is one of the oldest bridges in Norwich, it is a pretty part of town.
'It was an absolutely beautiful day and ideal conditions for rowing.
'Not a lot of people there knew what was going on but it was nice to have the Red Lion pub to keep hydrated.' He added.
It is the first time the rowing club will be featured on TV since they formed four years ago.
The club is based in the South Quay on the Great River Ouse and boasts a membership of more than 30 rowing enthusiasts.
The name of the documentary is yet to be revealed but Mr Kirk said it is tipped for Channel 4 and could be broadcast later this year.
