Archie Nisbet

A London solicitor, like his father before him, Archie Nisbet started rowing after going up to Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1919. Although he never won a rowing Blue, he was bow in the Pembroke eight beaten by Thames Rowing Club in the final of the 1923 Grand Challenge Cup at Henley. Nisbet had a brief spell with Thames RC shortly afterwards, before taking over as captain of the London Rowing Club in 1924.

In 1925 Nisbet teamed up with Terence O’Brien, and in 1927 they won the Silver Goblets at Henley. Due to O’Brien being hampered with stitches in a thumb, they lost in their first heat while trying to defend their title against Jack Beresford and Gordon Killick the following year. Nisbet and O’Brien, however, were still selected for the coxless pairs at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Having set an Olympic record of 7:56.2 in their opening heat, they went all the way to the final when, despite a good performance against the German pair of Bruno Müller and Kurt Moeschter, they had to be content with the silver medal.

Whilst at London RC, Nisbet also coached the Pembroke eight and in the first heat of the Grand at Henley in 1931, the bow could not race, and Nisbet took his seat. He was also one of the official coaches to the 1935 Cambridge Boat Race crew. Nisbet continued coaching after World War II, and in 1951 was elected vice-president of London RC. He was also their representative at the Amateur Rowing Association until 1975, and in 1977 he became chairman of the Head of the River Race, and was awarded an OBE.