The Prince of Wales, Gravesend, crew rowing down Woolwich Reach in the 5th RNLI annual sponsored marathon row, Gravesend to Greenwich and back, August 18, 1974. It all started with Eric Lupton's idea in 1970. Twelve boats rowed from Gravesend to Southend and back that year and raised £400. The idea snowballed and by 1974 21 boats, together with escort vessels, set out and £2,046 was raised. photograph by courtesy of Gravesend and Dartford Reporter..