Hidden Henley

WITH the smart new acrylic signs, it is easy to miss this older coat of arms mounted on two blades that form the gate to the riverside at Leander Club, right next to the public footpath.

It depicts the hippo which, like members of the club, are supposedly at home equally in or out of water.

The gate pillars on either side also have weather-worn “Leander Club” embossed lettering set into them and appear to be very old.

It’s worth reminding ourselves that Leander is the most successful rowing club in the world with more Olympic medals than any other — as the banner on the wall facing the river shows with its steadily increasing total. It is probably the oldest such club, too, having started in London in 1818 before moving to Henley in 1897.