The Bishop of Ely was on hand to bless a boat in honour of the mother of a member of the Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club who helped raise £10,000 for the club.

Ely Standard: The Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, blessed a Hudson eight boat in honour of AnnCatherine Smith, mother of Patricia Smith, a Cambridge University Womens Boat Club squad member at the university's boathouse last weekend. PHOTO: Rob MorrisThe Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, blessed a Hudson eight boat in honour of AnnCatherine Smith, mother of Patricia Smith, a Cambridge University Womens Boat Club squad member at the university's boathouse last weekend. PHOTO: Rob Morris (Image: Archant)

The Rt Revd Stephen Conway blessed a Hudson eight boat - designed for eight rowers - which had been named in memory of Ann Catherine Smith, mother of Material Sciences student Patricia Smith, on March 4.

Patricia, a member of the university’s women’s boat club, raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK and the club by taking part in 27 sports in 27 days last year. Her donation made up part of the £5 million used to open the club’s new boathouse on Fore Mill Wash last year.

She was joined by her father, Mike, and other members of the club as the Rt Revd Conway blessed the boat in memory of her mother who died of cancer in 2014.