Dream come true for Bann veteran Bobby

IN HIS 90 years Bobby Platt thought he had seen it all...until last week.

But a British Prime Minister coming to his beloved Bann Rowing Club during an Olympics?

That was something only he could dream about!

Bann’s president admitted being on cloud nine when shaking hands with Prime Minister David Cameron during his arrival at Hanover Place on a wet Wednesday morning last week.

“I only found out five minutes ago that he was coming, so I’m very surprised and honoured,” said Bobby.

“I think it’s a tremendous honour, something that would maybe happen once in a lifetime.

“I’m very proud of everyone at the club, even the older members who have done so much for the club in the past.”

Bobby was given an MBE for 60 years of service to rowing in 2005 but he said welcoming David Cameron at Bann far outweighed his individual honour.

“Bann is the oldest sporting organisation in Coleraine and it’s great to see so many of the young ones coming along.

“ What pleases me particularly is some of the younger ones that I have helped to coached and now doing such an excellent job. All of the knowledge has been passed on from one generation to another and it’s great.

“I know we have had some lean years but now we are having some very good ones.

Bobby first captained Bann in 1959 and again from 1972 to 1983 but it was as a coach he excelled, nurturing several rowers to Olympic standard at Coleraine Inst including Richard Archibald, Alan Campbell and Richard Chambers.