John Tilbury

As a member of the Skiff Club, John Tilbury won both the single and double sculls at the Thames Championships on several occasions in the 1950s. He also rowed as bow to the Molesey Boat Club coxed fours at the 1959 European Championships and 1960 Roma Olympics. Tilbury was in their eight at the World Championships at Lucerne in 1962 and ten weeks later competed in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Perth, Australia, where he won a gold medal with the England coxless fours, and bronze with the eights.

Tilbury rowed for Moseley after leaving school in 1947 and was elected captain for the 1957/58 season. He was regarded as one of the finest rowers the club ever had and helped them reach the final of the Wyfold Cup at Henley in 1953, only to go on and win it in 1959. He was also in the Molesey eight that won the Grand Challenge Cup for the first time in their history in 1960. He was also in the Barn Cottage four that won that year’s Stewards’ Cup. Tilbury won the Stewards’ again in 1963 when Molesey won the trophy for the first time in what was their first final for over 80 years.

Tilbury later became an Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) coach, British team manager, and also served on the board of selectors. By occupation he was a local market gardener who ran the Oak Tree Nurseries, at Hampton, Middlesex.