Imogen Beedham – an exceptional young lady

ARA Under -18 National Volunteer of the Year

Imogen Beedham (Beccles Rowing Club)

‘Midge’ is, without doubt, an exceptional young lady. She is 16 years of age, but has a very mature personality and has established a rapport with junior and senior rowers alike. Since her arrival – joining shortly after her mother (who was a participant in the inaugural Beccles vs Bungay Boat Race) – Midge has been an active participant within the club. She has developed her technical skills in both the cox’s seat (where she started her rowing career) and also as a talented sculler.

However, Midge’s principal contributions to the club have not only been in her role as junior representative on the club committee (where she represents the issues, requirements and needs of her junior clubmates). A large and significant part of her contribution has been as an active member of the fund-raising effort. Midge was asked, by our Chairman, to put forward an application to the Youth Opportunities Fund – a local fund overseen by Suffolk County Council – that awards grants to causes that develop facilities for the young.

Through Midge’s hard work, she was able to convince a panel of young people that Beccles Rowing Club was worth investing in. It was this hard work that initially secured new boats for the junior section. In fact, subsequent to that, so impressed was the fund of the work and plans of Beccles RC, that they subsequently provided in the region of £10,000 to get the club over the financial target which meant that construction could truly begin in earnest.

Midge’s efforts were recognised earlier this year when she was presented with an award from Beccles Town Council for her work at the club.  Outside of rowing, Midge is a talented academic – having already taken and passed her GCSE’s at age 15. She is now embarking on her first year of A-levels. She also sits on the school council. And as if all of this were not enough, Midge is also a junior leader at Beccles Brownies!  We, as a club, are proud to have an individual of such quality as Midge amongst our ranks. No doubt a real star of the future!

Beccles Rowing Club