The South Tyneside and Wearside hero who revolutionised a sport - and whose funeral had 130,000 people line the route

Back in his day, Harry Clasper was a people’s hero and when he died on July 12, 1870, the North East mourned en masse.

His funeral saw an estimated 130,000 people line the route to the churchyard and the eight-mile journey, which started at 2.45pm, took around 12 hours to complete.

Who was Harry Clasper?

Not only a world champion sculler, he was an innovative coach, trainer of future world champions and the inventor of the revolutionary thin racing crafts with the outriggers that we see today on rivers worldwide as well as at the Olympics and the boat race.

Clasper first came to national and international prominence in June 1845 when he and his three brothers – plus their Uncle Ned – took on the mighty Thamesmen at Putney, London, and defeated them for the world championship.

Born in Dunston in 1812, Harry was raised in Jarrow where his father was a miner. Later, as a Durham miner himself in Hetton, Harry was involved in the Great Strike of 1831, before becoming a professional rower.

South Shields-based playwright Ed Waugh said: “Rowing, or aquatics as it was known in Victorian times, was the sport of the working class before football came along.

“Upwards of 100,000 people would watch the races on the Tyne and even more in London where they raced from Putney to Chiswick.

“Obviously alcohol and betting were involved, so it was a day out - like horse racing is today, except entry was free.

“Harry was part of teams that by 1859 had won eight world championships on the Thames and his fame spread worldwide, wherever there were rowing clubs.”

Clasper’s initial world title happened 175 year ago and was celebrated in a play by Ed Waugh called Hadaway Harry.

It’s thanks to Dave Clasper that the Harry Clasper historical flame has been kept alive.

Proud family heritage

David’s great, great grandfather Richard was Harry’s brother and the coxswain in the 1845 championship-winning boat.

David, 72, who lives on Tyneside, has collected Harry Clasper memorabilia for the past 55 years and written books about the champion rower.

David said: “It has been a life-long interest and we’re delighted so many more people are now taking an interest in Harry and the other Geordie rowing world champions like Robert Chambers and James Renforth who were either trained by Harry or inspired by him.”

Ed added: “When Harry died in 1870, aged 58, more than 130,000 people lined the streets of Tyneside to pay tribute. Given the population of Newcastle then was probably less than half of that, people must have come from far and wide to see Harry off.

"We do know that throughout this life Harry ran around a dozen pubs along the Tyne which he combined with his boatbuilding commissions. Sadly, the only remaining pub is the dilapidated Barley Mow in the Milk Market on the Quayside. It is scheduled to be demolished and built upon soon.

“We would like to think the new owners and developers would be enthusiastic about a time capsule in the foundations dedicated to Harry Clasper and the other great Geordie rowers.

“Working with Newcastle City Council we got a blue plaque placed on the Quayside in 2017 but if anyone deserves a statue in Newcastle, it’s Harry.

Hadaway Harry, starring Jamie Brown, was due to tour nationally in June but the corona virus outbreak means it will tour in June 2021.

The Hadaway Harry script will be included in a forthcoming book of plays by Ed Waugh.

David Clasper’s books Harry Clasper: Hero of the North and Rowing: A Way of Life are available via https://www.hadawayharry.co.uk/

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