A crew of six men reunited to mark the anniversary of a 'long row' they completed together 50 years ago

It was on Saturday June 29 in 1968 that Alastair Craighead, Hugh Kerr, Ronald Anderson, John McDougall, David Paterson and Colin Campbell were part of a team which set off from the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club to go all the way to Mull, round the island and back in a four-oared rowing boat.

The vessel, named Zebra, was donated to the RWSABC by local industrialist T.C Riddell with the condition that it be rowed to Tobermory.

The group who took up the challenge spent a fortnight rowing the 260 miles and the Telegraph documented the journey each day.

Exactly 50 years later, members of the group got back together to mark the venture by rowing across the Clyde to Kilcreggan.

Hugh, an honorary member of Royal West of Scotland Boat Club, arranged the reunion and said he was delighted to see his old friends again.

He said: “Last year the club held a regatta and were showing the boats, including Zebra, which had been refurbished.

“I saw them and decided I wanted to try and reunite the people with the boats.

“It has taken a lot of organising and not everyone could make it but the other five crew members did.”

Alastair travelled all the way from Vancouver Island in Canada to be there and Colin made his way from Winchester in England.

Hugh said: “It was a unique situation and quite nostalgic.

"We had all lost touch so it was great to see everyone again.”

The crew members, many of whom had long since given up rowing, successfully made their way across the Clyde where they stopped for some food and drink before returning to join wives and partners for a meal at the Esplanande clubhouse before enjoying a display of pictures from the 1960s epic trip.

Hugh added: “We were in our early 20s when we first set out and now many are in their 60s and 70s but we rowed strongly and conditions were great, with the water relatively calm.

“It was great to have everyone back, and being able to sit down and have a meal and a chat later on was nice.”

The Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, Mr Guy Clark, attended the reunion to set the rowers off from the club and he later spoke at the meal.

Hugh added: “It was a significant row to remember and everyone seemed to enjoy being back and reminiscing.”