Amy Constance Gentry
© Elmbridge Museum
Amy Constance Gentry (1903-1976), oarswoman. She was British single sculls champion in 1932, 1933, and 1934 before retiring undefeated. She pioneered women's rowing in England, becoming a founder member, Captain, and Chair of Weybridge Ladies' Rowing Club. In 1960, she achieved her greatest success for women's rowing by persuading the International Rowing Federation to stage the women's European championships on the Welsh Harp in London, which marked the beginning of the acceptance of women's rowing at international level, and led to its inclusion in the 1976 Olympics. Amy Gentry worked as a secretary for Vickers Aviation at Brooklands, where she became personal secretary to Barnes Wallis, the chief designer. She worked for him between 1941-3 whilst he developed the 'Bouncing Bomb', and witnessed the first trials on Burwood Park Lake.