The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee has bestowed its most prestigious honour on a former president whose initiatives can be seen at pondside to this day.

Bernard “Tanny” Collins is only the fourth person to receive the designation “Honourary Life President.”

He followed in the footsteps of his father in the family business, P.F Collins, and rowed at the Regatta from 1967-72. Under his presidency in 1987-88, the way sub-committees provided information to the directors was streamlined so that it would get to the Executive. The system stands today. Tanny initiated the “Participants Liaison Committee” to broaden the communication to participants beyond what was then the “Coxswains Association.”

Collins did not stop there.1987 was the first time that the Boathouse was kept open for rowing after Regatta Day. The Regatta Hall of Fame was also created in 1987. Under his leadership, the process to build the current Boathouse began with the creation of a dedicated fund.

The entire Collins family has made significant contributions to the Regatta through personal participation and company sponsorship of races, crews, trophies and shells.

The other three recipients of the honour are John Perlin, Jack Reardigan and Gerry Angel.