RELATIVES of a popular rowing coach who died tragically have donated his old boat to the club he loved.

Bill Grant, 67, was cycling along the banks of the River Wear in Durham City, coaching a crew on the water, when he suffered a suspected heart attack and fell into the river on Saturday, February 28.

His widow, Jenny Grant, of Cleadon, near South Shields, donated his single sculling boat to Durham Amateur Rowing Club and the boat was renamed after him.

At the same ceremony, held at the clubhouse on Green Lane, Durham, four rowers who cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats in memory of Mr Grant presented the cash they raised to charity.

David Beeby, Michael Hall, Thomas Jackson and Elliot Kay, who completed the 12 day, 1,000-mile feat last month (August), raised £2,588 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service and £2,000 for the rowing club.

The club will use the money to buy new equipment.