Chris Davidge

Chris Davidge studied at Eton and Ocford, rowing several times in the University Boat Race against Cambridge. In 1951 his crew most famously sank before the end of the Fulham Wall, and the race was re-rowed a few days later. In 1952 he stroked Oxford to victory. Davidge continued to row after college, competing multiple times at the Henley Royal Regatta, and winning several titles. He won the Ladies’ with Eton in 1948, the Stewards’ in 1949 with Trinity Oxford, the Grand and Stewards with Leander Boat Club in 1953, the Goblets in 1957 and 1958 with Tony Leadley, the Doubles in 1959 with Stuart MacKenzie, the Grand in 1960 with Molesey Boat Club, and the Goblets in 1963 again with Mackenzie. Davidge rowed at three Olympics. He won a bronze in coxless pairs at the 1954 Europeans, improving to a gold in 1957, and also won a coxless four gold at the 1962 British Empire & Commonwealth Games.

Davidge’s career was as a lawyer, but he also was very active in sports administration, mainly in rowing. He was President of the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) from 1977-85, and thereafter was honorary life vice-president. He was on various FISA committees for many years, serving as a race umpire for over 30 years, and was chairman of the FIS Regattas Commission from 1976-90. He was a Steward of the Henley Royal Regatta and was Chef de Mission for the British team at the 1976 Montréal Olympics. In his business career he was director of Mixconcrete (Holdings) PLC from 1964-82, and served as a Lloyd’s underwriter starting in 1957. For his service to sport and Britain Davidge was awarded an OBE in 1982 and was made a deputy lieutenant (DL) in 1994.