On Friday March 6th Scott Rennie died suddenly. The only consolation is that when he died he truly was doing what he loved. When people die everything said about them seems to suddenly become positive, their strengths heightened and exaggerated and their flaws instantly forgotten. The incredible thing about Scott is that this is not the case. There genuinely was not a negative word to have been said about him and impressively people seemed to have realised that when he was alive. I was lucky enough to have known Scott for five years and everything about his behaviour and attitude was always exemplary. His presence down at the boat club was enormous and not only because of the sheer size of him! He never complained nor did he have a bad word to say and he always pushed himself incredibly hard. His training ethic and the way he continually conducted himself off the water could not help but endear him to people. Year upon year when a fresh batch of scrawny first years were introduced to the squad he was immediately looked up to and admired.
Scott’s kind and unassuming nature was further fortified by his sense of humour and ability to not take himself too seriously. At the boat club supper each year there is an infamous ‘golden bucket’ that is presented to a member of the squad who is dedicated and determined, the first to training and the last out and is willing to push themselves to the limit, but sadly is also completely and utterly useless. This prize is signed by all of its recipients and if you look at it you will see a history of winners that is littered with Olympic Gold Medallists that started at Imperial Boat Club with, in the beginnings at least, the right attitude! There is no doubt in my mind that Scott would one day have been one of the names that some young, slightly mal-coordinated rower would have looked at and thought, “Maybe if I keep training, I can be like that”. Scott was fast becoming a star at Molesey Boat Club, going from strength to strength and it is with great pride that I can say I belong to an organisation that once had him as one of its members.
Scott, for me at Imperial yielded so many fantastic memories that I will treasure forever. His rowing achievements will always be remembered but so too will the things he did that made him as great a person and friend as he was an athlete. Scott had so many phrases that ranged from insightful to ridiculously funny and that will stay with the people he knew forever. Scott had such a huge impact on the people that knew him – especially those that were privileged enough to row with him. He had an uncanny ability to alter the mood of a crew for the better and with the witty and hilarious phrases he used to come out with, it meant everyone always loved being in a boat and around him for more than the fact that he was pulling them along!
When I first met Scott I was new to IC and didn’t really have a clue. I think he thought he was being nice and offered to let me follow him around during circuits. It was not nice.... I have never met anyone that sweaty in my life and my one and a half hour introduction to rowing at Imperial was a horrible, sloppy, wet smelly one that I will never forget, but always caused him and me to have a few chuckles.
It is a huge loss to so many people that a man of such charisma, goodness and extraordinary ability was stolen from us so early in his life. However, I can honestly say how honoured I was to have him as a friend and speaking as a member of Imperial College Boat Club how proud and privileged we are to have had such an influential member. The undeviating loyalty and support he has shown for his friends and crewmates, whether they were at school, university or part of a rowing club make me ever so proud that I was able to know such an outstanding and wonderful person. He will always be loved and remembered by everyone that knew him.
Jenny Forrester