A family tradition!

The Walker family have celebrated the remarkable achievement of having three children row in the Oxford versus Cambridge boat race.   

It all started in 2007 when former King’s School pupil Peter Walker (OKS2007) began to study natural sciences at Gonville & Caius, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. A keen and successful rower from The King’s School, he achieved his dream by rowing for reserve crew Goldie against Isis on Boat Race day in 2014.

His sister Emma (OKS2010), who also attended King’s, quickly followed in his footsteps in 2010 when she began to study medicine at the same college. Not a rower at school, she was encouraged to take up the sport by her brother, who by this point was overall men’s captain at the college.

“I learnt to row here when Peter was captain as they needed more girls,” said 26-year-old Emma, who is a junior doctor. “I had never really expected to be in the Boat Race and never thought I would!”

Emma became Caius’ women’s rowing captain in 2012-13, eventually racing in 2015, beating Oxford by three feet at Henley.

And now youngest sibling Victoria (OKS2015) has sealed the family dynasty by rowing in the Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC) lightweights’ crew at Dorney Lake, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday March 18. The race was moved from its original location of Henley due to adverse weather conditions. 

Victoria, who is in her third year studying medicine at Caius, learnt to row at King’s and was the college’s women’s captain last year. 

She said: “I always knew it was something I could do, it was achievable I just had to put in the effort to do it.”

All the family were there to cheer her on, for what was no doubt a very proud moment as the CUWBC triumphed by 1/2 length!

walker family – rowing