Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The 'Eton Boating Song' is the best known of the school songs associated with Eton College that are sung at the end-of-year concert and on other important occasions. It is also played during the procession of boats. The words of the song were written by William Johnson Cory, an influential master at the school. The melody was composed by an Old Etonian and former pupil Cory, Captain Algernon Drummond, and transcribed by T. L. Mitchell-Innes. It was first performed on 4 June 1863. Ordinarily, only the first, sixth, seventh and eighth stanzas are sung. Contrary to popular belief, the 'Eton Boating Song' is not the school song of Eton College, that being 'Carmen Etonense'.
Performed by Honley Male Voice Choir.
Images:
'Eton - The 4th of June, Procession of the Boats' originally produced around 1889 by Dickinson and Foster.
'The Fourth of June: Procession of Boats Below Windsor Castle' by William Evans.
A photo of rowers on the Thames at Eton, with Windsor Castle in the background.
Procession of Boats, Eton College in front of Queen Mother on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the founding of the College, 29th May 1990.
A photo of Eton College boats, c1980's.
The 'Eton Boating Song' is the best known of the school songs associated with Eton College that are sung at the end-of-year concert and on other important occasions. It is also played during the procession of boats. The words of the song were written by William Johnson Cory, an influential master at the school. The melody was composed by an Old Etonian and former pupil Cory, Captain Algernon Drummond, and transcribed by T. L. Mitchell-Innes. It was first performed on 4 June 1863. Ordinarily, only the first, sixth, seventh and eighth stanzas are sung. Contrary to popular belief, the 'Eton Boating Song' is not the school song of Eton College, that being 'Carmen Etonense'.
Performed by Honley Male Voice Choir.
Images:
'Eton - The 4th of June, Procession of the Boats' originally produced around 1889 by Dickinson and Foster.
'The Fourth of June: Procession of Boats Below Windsor Castle' by William Evans.
A photo of rowers on the Thames at Eton, with Windsor Castle in the background.
Procession of Boats, Eton College in front of Queen Mother on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the founding of the College, 29th May 1990.
A photo of Eton College boats, c1980's.
