‘We were not struck by any suitable place in the neighbourhood of Radley for a boathouse.’

However the problem was solved very quickly, for by 1849, at the latest, there was a small boathouse standing opposite and a little above the Nuneham Boathouse.

With a boathouse thus provided, rowing could now start, and so:

‘The beginning was this – one morning Messrs Savory and Howard chose 6 boys and me as cox, took us to Sandford where an eight was lying – I don’t know where she came from. We all got in and rowed her to the new boat-house … In those days there were no straw hats, or flannels; we had to play in our ordinary clothes. To row in cloth trousers, white shirts with starched fronts and collars attached, and college caps [that is, mortar-boards] or nothing on your head was not an exhilarating pastime, and there was no rush for it. In my time there was no special crew, Captain of the boat, or anything else connected with rowing.’

So wrote Philip Gurdon, Radley’s first rowing ‘Blue’, in July 1923, at the age of eighty-eight.

Rowing was carried on from the original boathouse until 1854 when boats were kept in the open at Sandford under the care of the lock-keeper. A little later there was a small floating boathouse made fast to the tank near the lock. In 1861 a wooden boathouse was built on the bank at Sandford which was replaced with a new and larger one in 1889. This was in use until 1921.

As the size of the school increased, the Sandford boathouse became too small to accommodate all the boats and in 1911 an additional boathouse built opposite the Island in memory of H.M. Evans, Old Radleian and Radley coach from 1875 to 1908. The ‘Evans’ Boathouse was used by the 1st and 2nd Eights.

The old boathouses on the present site were built in 1921 by gangs of boys, masters and Old Radleians working under the supervision of two foremen.

Abridged from: Vyvyan Hope ‘Rowing’ in A.K. Boyd The history of Radley College 1847-1947, Oxford 1948

A selection of photos taken from the Radley College Archive. Click on a thumbnail image for a larger version

Some notable Radley rowing events and characters

E.A.P. Bircher
1969 – Radley’s greatest crew?
Richard Budgett
Radley and The Boat Race
C.L. Baillieu, M.B.E.
Donald Legget

E.A.P. Bircher

In a remarkably short senior rowing career of a total of only four years, Paul Bircher managed to cram in a great deal and cover himself with honours, winning three Boat Races with Cambridge in what was considered a series of great crews, winning a silver medal at the Olympics and the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley. There was obviously an athletic pedigree in his family, for his brother Freddy was in the Radley 1st VIII for three years.

Paul Bircher came to Radley in late 1943 from Canada where he had gone as an evacuee with his Canadian mother at the outbreak of war. He began his school rowing in 1944 rising to the 1st VIII in 1947; he first rowed at Henley that summer, when Radley were entered in the Ladies’ Plate going out in the second round to the 1st and 3rd Trinity… It is extraordinary to think that a year later he was to return to Henley to win a Silver medal at the Olympics.

After Radley Paul went up to Christ’s College, Cambridge, winning his Blue in his first year in 1948 rowing at 6 in a crew that is regarded as one of Cambridge’s finest. Paul distinguished himself by catching a boat-stopping monster crab in the early stages of the Race, a fact about which he is rather embarrassed. However, he and his crew recovered their composure, restarted and overhauled Oxford before the Mile Post going on “to win as they liked” in a record time which stood for 26 years until Oxford broke it in 1974.

That summer, the first post-war Olympics took place in London with the Olympic rowing regatta at Henley. The Cambridge Blue Boat was selected for the VIII’s with two ineligible men substituted by other Cambridge students. Racing was three abreast with the start just above the Island; in a very successful Olympic Regatta for Great Britain the VIII and did their part, reaching the Final and winning the Silver Medal, beating Norway into Bronze but losing out to the USA.

After the excitement of something like the Peace Olympics, coming back to Cambridge to row in the Boat Race may have seemed slightly anti-climactic in prospect but the 1949 Race lay in wait, proving that sport has the ability to surprise us as well as to provide heart-stopping drama for participants and spectators alike. Rowing as President of the CUBC in the 5 seat, Paul recalls it as “quite a Race”, and what a Race it was. The crews were neck and neck all the way with neither University able fully to take advantage of their station. Oxford led most of the way and when they held Cambridge round the outside of the long Surrey bend, the writing appeared to be on the wall for the Light Blues. Behind at Barnes, Cambridge rowed through Oxford on the outside to win by ¼ length to scenes of excitement, jubilation and consternation all round. As one of the closest Races ever, this victory is revered in Light Blue circles, although Cambridge men try to forget that only three years later Oxford triumphed with an even closer verdict when John Snagge famously yelled in the radio commentary: “I can’t tell who’s in the lead, it’s either Oxford or Cambridge.”

The 1950 Boat Race was more straightforward, a victory for Cambridge by 3 ½ lengths with Bircher, E.A.P., Radley and Christ’s in the 6 seat. History remembers that race as the one in which Anthony Armstrong-Jones coxed the Light Blues; later he was to become quite a famous photographer …. Somewhere in all this Paul had managed to acquire the nick-name “Wub-wub”; this is very much an in-joke with his crew members and modesty forbids them from explaining it to anyone outside their immediate circle …. Whenever it is mentioned, they collapse with helpless laughter.

After leaving Cambridge, Paul had to do his National Service so his talents were lost to the world of rowing for a while although he did manage to put together a crew of Royal Engineers for the Wyfolds at Henley; “We didn’t get anywhere” he recalls. After his time in the Army, Paul came back to row in 1953 in a CUBC/OUBC combination racing under Leander colours. Of course, they won the Grand. By then, Paul was working in Lancashire and the strain of combining career and rowing proved too much so he hung up his oars and got on with the rest of his life. In only four years’ senior rowing, he had certainly made his mark on the record books.

Paul regularly attends the Royal Regatta at Henley; although he couldn’t stay for Finals Day last year, he saw the 1st VIII beat Hampton and Eton. The competitive flame still burns strong: “It was marvellous to watch, especially the victory over Eton”. This from a man who knew a thing or two about winning races.

E.A.P. Bircher: 1948 Cambridge Boat Race Crew - won

1948 GB Olympic VIII - Silver

1949 Cambridge Boat Race Crew - won

1950 Cambridge Boat Race Crew - won

1953 Leander Club Grand Crew - won

1969 – Radley’s greatest crew?

Any person rash enough to nominate one crew as Radley’s best ever is sure to attract opprobrium from those who feel that others may have a claim to that title. It is certain that many Radley crews were truly excellent: Henley winners, Henley finalists, Nat Schools winners, and crews who failed to reach their full potential because of illness, injury or just plain bad luck. I fully expect to be collared by lobbyists for one vintage or another.

But the 1969 crew stands out.

Perhaps this is because, for a new boy that summer term, they are reviewed through the rose-tinted glasses of time, awe and hero-worship. Nevertheless, their record supports their claim: winners at Reading Head, 13th in the Tideway Head, winners of the Child Beale at Nat Schools (before the days of the Queen Mother’s Cup), National Junior Champions and represented GB as an VIII in the World Youth Championships. They were never bested by a crew from another school.

They were a truly monumental crew. There was no “engine-room”; from stroke through to bow they were massive. Their average weight was 13st 11lbs, heavier than Boat Race crews of that era, they only had two men under 13 stone and in Richard Salter they probably had Radley’s heaviest oarsman at an awesome 15 stone 13 lbs. Andrew Capitman and David Willis (himself) in the 1st VIII for three years) were not far behind in size at well over 14 stone. The crew may not have been the prettiest ever seen but they were certainly powerful enough to overwhelm the opposition … probably after half-frightening them to death on the stake-boats!

“Smash and grab” might have been a euphemism for their style of racing if it weren’t literally true. At the Tideway Head the Radleian records that they were in a collision; in fact, they bumped the crew they were chasing and Christopher Jenkins’ oar destroyed the rudder of their unfortunate victims leaving them to limp home. Radley rowed on to come 13th overall, despite the stoppage time added on for their vandalism. History doesn’t record who the damaged boat belonged to but they were very angry indeed, and the threats of violence by grown men on schoolboys possibly spurred Radley on a bit.

Another example of their rough horse technique and power was in their performance in the final of Nat Schools at Pangbourne, a four lane race. Left at the start (it must have taken them a while to crank up all that weight) they were lying last after a minute and a length down behind Pangbourne, Emanuel and Eton. After a substantial spurt and with about a minute to go, they had overtaken Pangbourne and Emanuel and were in the process of going through Eton when the Eton boat hit a buoy and swerved into the 1st VIII causing both crews to stop. Emanuel overtook as Radley untangled themselves, restarted and then passed Emanuel again to claim their victory in the dying strokes of the race.

They went on to win the National Championships at Pangbourne, with Philip Dannreuther on board replacing Capitman, who was ineligible, and were selected to represent GB in the VIII. The World Youth Championships were held in Naples in conditions of extreme heat and they were disappointed to come fifth in the Final; The Radleian stated that they substituted Coca-Cola for the local mineral water and consumed 500 bottles of the stuff, which probably added a few seconds to their times! The Radleian also commented: “Eventually one hopes that there will be a six lane course in Britain which will provide British crews with the experience to be able to compete on even terms with the so-competitive continentals”. How ironic that we should end up with Nottingham!

1969 was the first year we did not go to Henley because of the clash with exams, we returned in 1974 when the Special Race for Schools was introduced; it is almost inconceivable that the 1st VIII would not have won the PE that year. Thus allowing them to join our other proud Henley winners. They were huge, they were powerful, they were very fast, they were never beaten by another school, and they were the only Radley VIII to represent GB at the World Junior Championships. Were they Radley’s greatest crew? The arguments may rage but for one small boy, from that sun-filled summer in 1969, they will always be Radley’s best ever, winning

• Bourne Cup and Junior/Senior Pennant - Reading Head
  
• Junior/Senior Pennant, 13th Overall - Tideway Head
  
• Junior/Senior VIII’s - Walton
  
• Child Beale Cup, National Schools - Pangbourne
  
• Senior VIII’s - Staines
  
• Junior National Championships - Pangbourne
  
• World Youth Rowing Championships, 5th - Naples
  

Crew: S.D. Hunt (bow), J.H. Marland, C.C. Jenkins, R.N.P. Salter, A.W. Capitman, M.H. Lines, D.R. d’A Willis, A.R. Nairne (Stroke), A.J.B. Vernon (cox).

Average weight: 13 stone 11 lbs

P.H. Dannreuther substitute for Capitman after Nat Schools

Coach: R.L. Howard

1969 Records

• The 1969 crew was the only Radley crew to represent GB as an VIII
  
• It was the heaviest crew ever, average weight 13 stone 11 lbs
  
• Richard Salter was the heaviest Radley oarsman ever at 15 stone 13 lbs
  
• Salter also held the record for drinking a pint of milk from a bottle – 2.7 seconds. A feat achieved by exhaling into the bottle, forcing the liquid out faster thereby proving that oarsmen do occasionally listen to their physics dons
  
• Led Zeppelin 1 which exploded into the national consciousness that year
  

Richard Budgett

An Olympic Gold Medal is the Holy Grail for an athlete, the ultimate sporting achievement. Winning Olympic Gold requires talent, immense dedication, a staggering amount of training and hard work, allied with great timing. In Los Angeles in 1984, Richard Budgett won Gold for Great Britain in the Coxed Fours, the only Radley Olympic Gold Medallist in any sporting discipline.

Richard was at Radley from 1972-76, rowing in the 1st VIII in his last year. Radley was one of the top school crews that year but a salmonella outbreak decimated the crew before National Schools so a 1st and 2nd VIII combination understandably failed to achieve any honours.

At Henley, the crew reached the Final of the Special Race for Schools, only to lose by ¾ length to Shrewsbury. It was his first Henley Final, a few more were to come his way in the years to come. Rowing at 3, Budge recalls that he was tall “with long levers” but not particularly heavy; in fact, he was a very respectable 13 stone 5 lbs although he was outweighed by James Vyvyan-Robinson at 14 stone 8 lbs. The 1976 crew contained members of three great Radley rowing families: Tom Cadoux-Hudson, Graham Raikes and Steve Arkell. Tom Cadoux was to feature large in Richard’s rowing career five years later.

In 1977 Richard went up to Selwyn College, Cambridge to read Medicine. It is an enduring mystery why he was never selected to row for the University and the personnel involved shuffle their feet in a rather embarrassed fashion when the matter is brought up. Ever modest, he didn’t enter himself in Trials for the 1978 Race, was out very early in the 1979 campaign, and suffered the indignity of being cut at the final stages in 1980 by the President, John Woodhouse, with whom he shared a house! Their relationship survived the strain of this small disaster and today they are the firmest of friends! Richard is incredibly gracious about his rejection by the CUBC, but then having an Olympic Gold Medal in your pocket does much to alleviate the pain of any such disappointments in your sporting career!

After finishing his time at Cambridge in 1980, Richard went to to Middlesex Hospital to continue his medical training. Spotted rowing in a Kingston Auriol IV, he was persuaded to trial for UL. Budge is astonishingly modest about his talents and says he didn’t think he had a chance but he put in the hours in the gym and on the river and, “after training very hard” (one shudders to think of what this means), he excelled in seat racing and won selection for the UL VIII. In 1981 he teamed up with his O.R. medic colleague, Tom Cadoux-Hudson, to row in a UL coxed pair. This boat was pretty quick and they won selection to the GB squad for the World Championships where they had a storming regatta and won Bronze. So, a year after leaving Cambridge where he was unable to gain selection for Goldie, he was a World Championship medal winner and well-established as an international oarsman.

Richard continued to row and in a UL IV he won selection to the GB squad coming 5th in the World Championships in 1982 and 6th in 1983. Along the way he made up for the defeat by Shrewsbury back in 1977 by picking up winners medals at Henley, winning the Prince Philip with UL in 1982 and the Grand in 1983 in a UL/Oxford combination VIII.

In preparation for the 1984 Olympics, Richard decided to take a year off work to be able to concentrate better on his rowing. Operating on a true squad system, the GB selectors chose their strongest four oarsmen for the coxed four event. With Stephen Redgrave at stroke, Andy Holmes at 3, Budge at 2, Martin Cross at bow and Andrew Ellison at cox, Great Britain was fielding a formidable challenge for the Gold Medal. The crew was certainly strong enough to win at Henley, which they duly did, Richard picking up his third winner’s medal in the Prince Philip. In the Olympic Final, their main opposition were the Americans who knew from the heats that Britain would push at 1000m. The GB crew’s race plan had been to lead all the way but they trailed by ¾ length at the halfway mark; the planned push was countered by USA and no real impression was made so at 1500 metres GB went for home, going through the Americans to take the Gold. Having started as favourites and after what they considered to be a poorish row in the final, Richard remembers feeling more a sense of relief at winning than elation. He took the decision to retire from international rowing and was at work the day after he arrived back from L.A., his Consultant making him wear his Gold Medal on his ward rounds, much to Richard’s embarrassment.

Budge rowed with Britain’s greatest ever athlete and if Redgrave wins a fifth Gold at Sydney he will become the greatest Olympic athlete of all time. Redgrave’s sense of dedication, his concentration and his willpower are awesome which, combined with his physiological capabilities, make him the supreme athlete that he is. Obviously, he has had to choose crew members to help him win his medals but Richard says their boat went lengths faster with Redgrave on board and that they “were very glad to have him in the crew”.

Richard carried on rowing after Los Angeles; indeed, when he was invited to become a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta, he accepted only on the basis that he could continue rowing. In fact, rowing for Tideway Scullers, he reached the final of the Prince Philip once more only to be beaten by the GB squad IV. Today Richard is Chief Medical Officer for the British Olympic Association. In this capacity he leads the Headquarters Medical Team at all Olympic events allowing him to indulge his passion for skiing at the Winter Olympics and to watch a bit of rowing at the Summer Olympics. He says that the Olympics are very hard work but it does give him a chance to meet up with old friends and, one supposes, to watch hopeful athletes chase their dream, just as he seized his in Los Angeles in 1984.

Richard Budgett:

• 1981 Coxed II World Championships - Bronze
  
• 1982 Coxed IV Prince Philip, Henley - won
  
• 1982 Coxed IV World Championships - 5th
  
• 1983 VIII Grand Challenge Cup, Henley - won
  
• 1983 Coxed IV World Championships - 6th
  
• 1984 Coxed IV Prince Philip, Henley - won
  
• 1984 Coxed , Los Angeles Olympics - Gold
  

Radley and The Boat Race

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race was already an established sporting fixture by the time rowing started at Radley in 1849; the first Boat Race had taken place at Henley twenty years earlier in 1829. It was not long, however, before a Radleian featured in the Race, our first Blue being won by P. Gurdon in 1856 who rowed at bow in the Oxford crew which lost by ½ length (weight 10st 8lb, enough to get him into a J-15 crew today!) Thenceforth, Radley and Radleians have been an integral part of the Boat Race.

Since 1856, a total of 132 Blues have been awarded to 79 alumni of Radley, the third largest contributor of oarsmen and coxes behind Eton and Shrewsbury. 84 were won for the Dark Blues and 48 for Cambridge. The RCBC has produced a total of 16 Presidents, eight for each University Boat Club, or 20percent of all Radley Blues. Nine men won three Blues and three men rowed four times: R.W. Ridley (Oxford 1857-60), T.E. Hockin (Cambridge 1876-79) and C.L. Baillieu (Cambridge 1970-73) who won all of his Races. We have had 70 winners, 61 losers and one dead-heater.

In the history of Radley rowing certain family names stand out, contributing generations of oarsmen ot sets of brothers to the service of the boat club: Arkell, Burgess, Cadoux-Hudson, Clegg, Fraser, Legget, Messum and Van Oss to name some. However, of all the Radley rowing families, the name Raikes stands proudest and they were stalwarts of the OUBC, too, with five Raikes winning Blues for Oxford: R.T. (1865-66), D.T, (1920-22), R.M.T. (1946), T.D. (1947 and 49) and R.D.T. (1954-55).

The history of the Boat Race is rich with incident and Radleians have been very much involved in the thick of the action. Radleians have rowed in some of the closest Races: 1856 (Cambridge by ½ length), 1949 (Cambridge by ¼ length), 1952 (Oxford by a canvas), 1980 (Oxford by a canvas) and 1877 (“Dead heat to Oxford by three feet” legend has a drunken honest John Phelps deciding on the finishing line). A Radleian was in the Oxford crew when Cambridge sank in 1859, a Radleian caught a boat-stopping crab in 1948 (although his crew recovered to overtake Oxford and win), a Radleian lost his blade in the 1975 Race when his gate came undone, a Radleian was on board when the Light Blues sank at Barnes in 1978 and a Radleian rowed in Oxford’s “mutiny” year in 1987 although it must be stressed that Tom Cadoux-Hudson (Oxford 1987-88) was one of the “True Blues”; Tom also umpired the terrifically exciting Race in 1997 when he had to warn both crews over 150 times about their steering.

In a bizarre institution such as the Boat Race, a private match over 4 ¼ miles on a bendy stretch of tidal river with only enough space in the stream for one and a half crews, it would be unusual if some men of real character were not thrown up. Chris Baillieu is rightly regarded as one of Cambridge’s and Great Britain’s greatest oarsmen; there was the delightfully initialled and aptly surnamed T.H.E. Stretch (Oxford 1894-95); Paul “wub-wub” Bircher (Cambridge 1948-50) caught his crab in 1948 and also won a silver medal in the VIII at the Olympics in the same year; Sean Morris (Oxford 1963-65) still rows and is national and world indoor rowing champion in the lightweight veteran group; and there is Donald Legget (Cambridge 1963-64), currently coaching at Radley, who has been invited to coach Cambridge every year since 1968, ranking him as one of the great Boat Race coaches. However, perhaps the most extraordinary character was W.B. “Guts” Woodgate (Oxford 1862-3) who started coxless four racing in this country by instructing his cox to jump out of the boat at the start of a race at Henley (they were disqualified) and who run from London to Oxford in evening dress after taking a bet at a boozy dinner, reaching Oxford by 11 o’clock the next morning. He also won the Wingfield Sculls and coached both Oxford and Cambridge for the Boat Race, once even on the same day! As a Pup, he ran nine miles up and down Covered Passage inside an hour after eating two pots of jam – again for a bet. There was also a rather unsavoury incident involving a terrier, a cat and both Blue Boats … but you’ll have to read his memoirs for the full story.

The 1960’s and 70’s were a purple patch for the RCBC with a total of 38 Blues won, reflecting the strength of the school boat club at the time. There have been fewer Radleians involved in the Boat Race in the past two decades. The co-educationalising of the Universities from the late 1970’s onwards meant less places for men, and certainly less places for sportsmen, and the changing nature of the Race itself has meant that more graduates and overseas oarsmen are involved. So, if a Radleian is to row in the Race, it is likely he will have been to another university before going up to Oxbridge, as with James Behrens (Cambridge 1992-93) and Rob Clegg (Oxford 1994-96).

In 1872, Radleians raced against each other for the first time on opposite sides in the Boat Race which has happened 20 times over the years, including 1965 when Joe Fraser (Cambridge 1964-65) and Miles Morland (Oxford 1963-65) were opposing Presidents. It is a strange sensation to have to row against someone you have known for many years and with whom you have shared a boat at school. The healthy contempt held by Boat Race crews for each other is not easily overcome despite the hand of congratulation or commiseration extended to old crewmates at the finish; however, the shared experience both at school and in this great Race overcomes the antipathy felt, allowing friendship and mutual respect to return – eventually.

As for this year’s Race? I know I ought to say “May the best crew win” but I’m afraid I can’t help it: “Cambridge for the Boat Race!”

C.L. Baillieu, M.B.E.

There are several contenders for Radley’s greatest oarsman and Chris Baillieu is certainly in the front rank of these. In terms of longevity, Chris’ record is extraordinary, he was a GB International sculler and double sculler for 11 years; in terms of events won, his record is hard to beat with Olympic, World Championship and Henley medals galore. Wins at regattas and international regattas are too numerous to mention.

Chris was very much a product of the Ronnie Howard era in the 1960’s when a stream of oarsmen took university, club and country honours. He rowed in the 1st VIII in 1967 and ’68, in 1967 winning selection in a Coxless IV with Crooks, Willis and Twiston-Davies, going to the World Youth Championships at Ratzeburg and coming 5th in the final with 0.2 seconds dividing 2nd and 5th places. The 1968 1st VIII was the last crew to enter the PE at Henley for many years, going out with the stream favoured Eton on Berkshire.

Chris went up to Jesus College, Cambridge and went on to win four Blues from 1970-73, rowing as President of the C.U.B.C. in his last year. He rowed on the winning side in all four Boat Races, a Cambridge record he shares with three others including the legendary S.D. Muttlebury. While at Cambridge he also won all the internal C.U.B.C. events: Bushe-Fox Freshmen Sculls, Colquhorn Sculls (three times), the Lowe Double Sculls (twice), the Magdalen Pairs (twice) and Light Fours (twice).

His international career began in 1973 when he formed his very productive partnership with his C.U.B.C. colleague, Mike Hart, representing GB in the double sculls. In 1973, 74 and 75, coached by Donald Legget, they won Bronze at the World Championships; in the Montreal Olympics they won Silver and they took the Gold at the World Championships in 1977. In all, Chris represented GB for a period of eleven years taking part in two Olympics and eight World Championships as a single or double sculler.

Chris also had a love affair with Henley Royal Regatta. Rowing under Leander colours he won an extraordinary nine Henley medals: the Double Sculls in 1973, 75, 77, 78, 79 and 83 and the Diamond Sculls in 1981, 82 and 84. Given how long RCBC usually wait between Henley wins, Chris’ successes may seem greedy; perhaps he was making up for losing out as a schoolboy in 1968 ….Certainly, Henley was a happy hunting ground for him. By any standards, Chris’ domestic and international record was remarkable and compares well with Britain’s best oarsmen.

Today, Chris runs his own sports promotion company and is still involved with rowing, helping with the development of the Institute of Sport, his journalistic work with the BBC and FISA, and as a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta. Living in Putney, he still sculls regularly and works out on his ergo; his ergo score is a closely guarded.

Donald Legget

In the bedlam that followed the 1st VIII’s PE victory last July, there was one man who was rather laconic in his acceptance of congratulations. Winning at Henley tasted very sweet for Donald Legget but it was not a new experience, for Donald had known success as a coach before at the Royal Regatta – many times.

Donald “my name is spelt with two gins and one tonic” Legget rowed at Radley as a schoolboy and was in the 1st VIII in 1959 and 60, in his last year and Captain of Boats. In his gap year he rowed for London Rowing Club before going up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He rowed in the Cambridge reserve crew, Goldie, in the days before there was an Isis/Goldie Race, and won his Blue in 1963 and ’64, as Secretary of the C.U.B.C. and the “heaviest bow man ever” in the 1964 crew. He won one and lost one.

After Cambridge, Donald embarked immediately on his career as a coach. He was Captain of Leander in 1965 and coached Leander crews from 1965-75, 1978-81 and 1985-86. During the first decade of his coaching career, Donald was most notably linked with the double sculls crews of Crooks (O.R.) and Delafield which went to the Munich Olympics(5th) in 1972 and Baillieu (O.R.) and Hart 1973-75 who won three Bronze medals at the World Championships. He won the Thames Cup at Henley three times and his Leander Thames Cup crew in 1969 contained three men (Crooks, Yallop and Lester) who formed the nucleus of the GB VIII that won Silver at the Montreal Olympics.

Donald went on to coach a succession of crews (including an Eton coxed pair which cam fourth at the Junior Worlds in 1977!), getting to Henley semi-finals and finals, winning Henley and going to various world championships. His Henley winning crews included Durham University, the GB Quad, and various Goldie crews including a Stewards IV in 1995 which beat the Searle brothers in the semi-final, and a Ladies’ Plate crew which won in 1996; “they were quite fast” he remembers. This form of understatement is typical of Donald, his 96 Ladies Plate crew was very fast.

Despite his extensive peregrinations through the UK rowing scene he has found time to work with those clubs with whom he has the strongest ties: his three alma maters of Radley, Trinity Hall and Cambridge. In 1991 he “finished” the Trinity Hall May Boat which bumped four nights to go second on the river, completing the job by taking the ‘head’ in 1992 where they stayed for four years.

If there is one part of the world where Donald is most highly regarded, it is on the Great Ouse in the windswept Fens where the Cambridge University Boat Club train and plot their annual campaign against Oxford. Donald was first invited to form part of the Cambridge coaching team for the 1968 Boat Race and has coached every year since then, a total of 32 years to date. There have been many great coaches over the 170 years of the Boat Race and Donald’s name deserves to rank alongside the very best of them. In the days before ergo scores, seat racing and physiological testing, it was often only Donald’s eye for an oarsman that would differentiate between who was and who wasn’t really moving a boat. Donald himself has moved with the times, embracing the technological advances that have swept the sport and today is as valued a member of the Cambridge coaching team as he has ever been. He has been the finishing coach of many Goldie crews over these years, often producing a winning crew to provide the only Light Blue solace in the long years of Oxford domination; included in this was a run of eight victories from 1990, when Isis were disqualified, until 1997, his 1993 Goldie setting the course record.

With more money coming into the sport in the 1990’s, Donald turned “professional” and finally began to receive a just reward for what hitherto he had done for love. In 1995 he was brought in to help the Radley Senior Squad and his contribution was swiftly felt: in 1997 the 1st VIII won at National Schools for the first time since 1981 and last year we lifted the PE. Donald doesn’t confine his expertise to the Senior Squad, he also spends time with crews throughout RCBC helping to guide our younger oarsmen towards fulfilling their dreams of glory in the 1st VIII’s of the future. This year he has come full circle and has been seen coaching a J-14 in a sculling boat, Charles Baillieu, just as he coached his father for Cambridge, Leander and Great Britain.

Some great coaches have been involved with Radley over the years: Hope, Eason, Bailey, Howard, Hardy and Mullard spring immediately to mind. Donald Legget can now add his name to that list, although I think that all of them would concede that in terms of experience, nationally and internationally, and in events won, Donald is “primus inter pares”.