BELL, Albert (1910-1982)
Modified on Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:55 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Staff, Geelong College
BELL, Albert (1910-1982)
Albert Bell
Albert Bell was a widely respected coach of Rowing Crews from 1941 to 1971. The School won the Head of the River 5 times under his tuition in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1960.
To watch the finish of the Head of the River, 1957 Click Here
The
Albert Bell Club (ABC)
and the Albert Bell Room at the College Rowing Shed are named in his honour.
Jim Ferguson in his book
No Passengers and the Will to Win
described Albert Bell as follows:
'The Bell family originally came from Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland. Albert was educated at the Swanston Street State School and Geelong High School. From 1924 till 1937 he worked for several employers in the fields of auctioneering and marketing. During the worst of the depression he worked on wool presses while employed by Strachan & Co. He joined Winstanley and Coghlan in 1937. This firm of general engineers fabricated plant and equipment for many companies in Geelong and carried out ship repairs. Albert later became a partner in the company which then traded as Winstanley Bell & Co.'
Albert Bell, circa 1951
Albert joined the Corio Bay Rowing Club and was coached by Charlie Saleh and Bill Pincott. He rowed in champion junior eights that won convincingly. If the war had not started these crews would have moved into senior class. During the war, Albert's firm was busy working long hours on essential work for the war effort. He had to give up coaching the College crew after the 1941 Head of the River. However, he did find time in the weekends to coach the Everist brothers, Robert Purnell and other young novices in a tub four on Corio Bay. As a result, when the war finished, Corio Bay was able to boat the 'Harmony Eight' that was undefeated for several seasons and represented Victoria in the King's Cup in 1948. The crew included Old Collegians Ian Everist, Don Bridges and David Salmon.
By 1945 Albert was able to resume coaching the College and his crew of 1946 was unlucky not to win the Head of the River. In 1948, while with the Victorian State Crew in Hobart, he recorded a message of support for the College 1st VIII just prior to the Head of the River.
To listen to Albert's Talk Click Here.
Up until 1954, the end of Albert's
'first age',
he devoted much time to coaching both the College and Corio Bay. He was Secretary of Corio Bay for 25 years.
His golden age extended until 1960 with the Corio Bay four, all from the 1957 Head of the River crew. They won the silver medal at the 1962 Commonwealth Games, missing out on gold by half a metre. During this great age Albert spent less time coaching juniors but still took a keen interest in each and every junior. Keith McNaughton composed several tributes to Albert Bell.
To listen to Keith's rendition of 'Our Albert' Click here.
Albert was a loving husband and father, who took a close interest in the activities of his daughters Jan and Rosemary, especially their Girl Guides activities. Albert's first wife, Jean, died in 1966. Through Guiding, Albert met Doreen whom he married in 1968. Albert Bell died in 1982.
Albert Bell was was involved in a vast array of community service activities. These included:
Albert Bell (A Lawson)
Head of the River Final, 1955 (R Howden)
• Geelong Try Boys Brigade, Vice President 30 years.
• Geelong Ambulance Service, Vice President 15 years.
• Geelong Branch, Victorian Chamber of Manufacturers, President & Life Member.
• Geelong Hospital, Committee of Management and Life Governor.
• Geelong Hospital Gala Board, Secretary 8 years.
• Represented Geelong Hospital at Torquay and Portarlington Community Health Centres
• Chairman of Appeal for : Family Cottage Units at Kardinia Children’s Home and the Geelong Branch, Anti-Cancer Council.
• Grace Mackellar House, Life Governor.
• Gordon Institute of Technology, (Member of Council in years before being acquired by Deakin University).
• Geelong Springding Inaugural Committee 1979.
• Fyans Building Society, Director from inception till 1982 when it merged with Pyramid Building Society.
• Geelong and District Community Service Award, 1975.
• Rotary Club of Geelong, Member from 1949, Secretary for 8 years, President 1962/63.
• Formed Rotary Club of Belmont.
• Rotary District Governor 1968/69.
• Paul Harris Fellowship, Rotary's Highest Honour.
• Masonic Lodge, Member.
Sources: Biographical Excerpt from James Mephan Ferguson. 'No Passengers and the Will to Win'. pp 40, 41.
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