City Life Member Warren Somerford passed away this week, after more than sixty years as a part of our club.

A champion boatman of the 50's 'Wonk' Somerford served as Club Captain for an unequalled eleven seasons from 1954 through to 1965, followed by five years as President.

As well as winning many State titles in Surf Boats and March Past, Wonk was a nine time winner of the club Marathon, the event which now bears his name.

Fellow Life Member Ian Scott knew Wonk for longer than just about all of us, and provided these memories:

The passing of Wonk Somerford last weekend marks the end of an era at the City of Perth SLSC as well as at City Beach.

Joining the club as a sub-junior (13 y.o.) during the war years, Wonk soon settled into a lifestyle of dedication and service to his fellow members and to the general public.

By the time I joined the club in 1953, Wonk was Vice Captain in charge of patrols, having been a patrol captain for a number of years. During that time his patrol twice won the "Ajax" Shield as champion patrol. Wonk had also found time to carry out the duties of Gear Officer for three years. He had already won a number of State Championships in March past teams, as well as stroking the "A" crew to victory in the two previous State titles. A busy and productive first ten years.

Keeping an eye on the progress of the A Crew at the 1964 State Championships

It was this dual role as tough competitor and strict disciplinarian with beach patrols and club activities that established Wonk's lifetime reputation in surf lifesaving.

Wonk moved on to serve eleven years as Captain followed by five years as club President. In company with this administration service, he found time to row in another five State champion "A" crews and march in several more champion march past teams.

His performances in competing in the City Marathons are legendary, particularly when one remembers the beach front in its undeveloped state with continuous large sandhills and no road or parklands. Unbeaten for seven consecutive years between 1946 and 1952, and going on to win one more time, the Somerford name was then given to this event in recognition of his record.

Following his years in club administration, Wonk moved on to State Centre where he held the position of State Deputy President for five years, and managed the State Team on two occasions.

Wonk's contribution to surf life saving was recognised with the granting of membership of the WA Hall of Fame and club and state life membership.

But there were other sides to Wonk. First, a story teller! To those who were around in the fifties and sixties, the times are legendary. Sometime around 1960 Wonk was appointed as the first Beach Inspector at City Beach. This of course meant he was at the beach seven days a week. The younger members hanging around the clubrooms would regularly gather to hear Wonk tell, and re-tell, the fabulous surf boat and other club stories of times gone by. The waves were bigger, the rowers braver, the rescues further and further out, and greater in number. The stories knew no bounds.

And then there were the club trips. In the early days we had professional drivers to take us on those country trips to Geraldton, Bunbury and Albany.

Starting the WR Somerford Marathon, November 2002

We then moved to twelve annual Easter trips to Denmark where Wonk drove us all in a Phillipoff's Removal truck, loaned specially for the trip. Twenty or so young bloods in the back, towing a surf boat, driving into the early hours of the morning down to Denmark and staying right on the beach in the old clubhouse. And Wonk was not only the driver, but also organiser - manager -captain - father figure - fellow surfer, all wrapped in one. There were many other driving trips to country carnivals where Wonk volunteered himself into service. Others tell of that last trip in a hired bus coming home from a Denmark carnival just a few years ago where as the bearings grew hotter and hotter and the engine screamed, they simply turned up the volume of the radio to cover the noise and covered the red lights on the dashboard with gaffer tape until the engine literally exploded.

Always one to put the club ahead of all, Wonk was fiercely supportive of wife Betty and their two children Robbie and Margaret. Their support to him throughout his career was fully reciprocated. Heaven help anyone in the boat area who criticised Wonk or City if they were within earshot of Bet. You were left in no doubt of her unrestricted support.

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