Eric Fairbairn

Although born and originally educated in Australia, Eric Fairbairn moved to London with his family, and was sent to Eton College. After going up to Jesus College, Cambridge, he followedthe family rowing tradition, as his uncle Steven Fairbairn was a four-time Cambridge Blue, and was responsible for developing the “Fairbairn Style” of rowing. Eric won his Blue in 1908, when he rowed at number four in the Cambridge crew that won in the fastest time since 1902. He was scheduled to win his second Blue in 1909 but had to pull out due to an injury a week before the race. He did, however, win that second Blue in 1911 but sadly Oxford won the race in a time of 18:29, which was not bettered until 1934.

Selected for the Great Britain eights at the 1908 Olympics, for reasons unknown he lost his place in the boat and was replaced by fellow Jesus man, and former Cambridge President, Henry Goldsmith. The eight won the bronze medal while Fairbairn won the silver in the coxless pairs after teaming up with Philip Verdon. Shortly before the Olympics, Fairbairn won the Senior Sculls Challenge Cup at the Marlow Regatta. Fairbairn rowed at stroke in the Jesus College crew beaten in the final of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley by the Belgian Royal Club Nautique de Gand in 1909 and, the following year, Jesus were beaten in the final again, this time by Magdalen, Oxford. Fairbairn was also a first class rugby player and often wore the colours of Rosslyn Park RUFC.

The day after World War I broke out, Fairbairn enlisted before obtaining a commission into the 10th battalion, Durham Light Infantry. He was sent to France on 22 May 1915 and, a month later, was badly injured while fighting on the front line, when hit by shrapnel from a grenade. He died from his wounds later that same day.