Town v gown: safety fears for Cambridge rowers with fair date clash

Times

09-06-2025

Since Cambridge University was established in 1209 clashes between locals and students — or town and gown — have periodically reared their head. But although some underlying resentment may remain, violence between the two groups looked to have ended.
That was until last summer when one student rower, while putting their boat away, was hit with a 10mm nut fired from a catapult by a group of teenagers sitting across the river. They and the other rowers had to sneak out of a side door of the clubhouse as they continued to be targeted.
This and a spate of other incidents, such as youths spitting at boats off bridges and sandwiches being used as missiles, have prompted the chairwoman of Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC) to write to college captains to express concern about student safety.
College boat clubs are being given the option not to race on the Friday and Saturday of Bumps
ALAMY
In her email, Dr Isabel Nimmo said the next flashpoint could be a weekend this month between the May Bumps, an annual set of college boat club races on the River Cam, and the Midsummer Fair, a centuries-old cultural event rooted in Gypsy and Traveller histories, held on the common opposite many college boathouses.
She said she had contacted the police and asked them to have officers patrolling the river to avoid any conflict, adding that colleges were also in contact with the local force.
Nimmo said that after concerns were raised with her about the clash she was proposing giving clubs the option of not racing on the Friday and Saturday of Bumps — the two busiest days of Midsummer Fair — for safety reasons.
She added that any college that chose not to take part on those days could have their finish positions preserved from any racing on Wednesday and Thursday. In Bumps the finishing position is the starting order for next year's event, prompting some participants to question why any crew should bother competing at all.
• The truth about misbehaviour at Cambridge
Nimmo admitted in the correspondence that when the Bumps and Midsummer Fair clashed years ago 'things ran smoothly' and there were no problems. The proposal is set to be debated at a captains' meeting before the rowing begins on Wednesday, June 18.
Her intervention has prompted 'deep concern' from Friends, Families and Travellers, a leading Gypsy, Roma and Traveller charity set up to combat discrimination.
'It is alarming that, despite no evidence, time and resources are being directed toward scapegoating and demonising Gypsy and Traveller people,' a spokesman said, adding that CUCBC members were promoting 'harmful stereotypes' against the community.
One lower boats captain, who did not want to be named, said: 'None of us want Bumps to be cancelled, but we also don't want it to be unsafe either.
'When the fair's on we're usually advised to steer clear of the boathouses entirely so I'm definitely worried about racing on the last two days.'
College boat captains are also said to be concerned about 'Boatie Mash', the post-Bumps party that takes place in a Cambridge club that will be shared on the night with locals.
Captains are said to have warned rowers against attending and told any who insist not to wear their blazers, ties or college stash [clothing bearing the name of their college].
A Trinity Hall rower said of a previous incident: 'Some young people, probably no older than 15, were leaning over the bridge attempting to spit on us as we passed under. One of them successfully landed their spit all over my legs.'
Another university rower said: 'I've definitely had issues with town kids throwing stuff at us. I've been hit with sandwiches and a banana peel.'
• The Boat Race 2025 is faster, older and more foreign than ever
The Showmen's Guild, which organises the Midsummer Fair, said: 'We have never at any of our meetings had any reports of incidents regarding rowers from any of those involved with the SAG [safety advisory group].'
CUCBC said: 'A small number of boat clubs expressed concerns about the timing of May Bumps this year, as it partly overlaps with the Midsummer Fair, another mass spectator event. Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs have held positive discussions with relevant local bodies and are not concerned that Midsummer Fair will interfere with the smooth running of the event.'