Roy Mitchell

Roy Mitchell was educated at Shrewsbury School and Cambridge University. He later became an engineer, joining the Peterborough-based family business of Mitchell Engineering Company before World War II. He became the managing director in 1954 and, upon the death of his father, took over as chairman in 1963.

Mitchell was a keen sailor and raced star and dragon class yachts from his home club at Burnham-on-Crouch. He took part in the 1936 Olympic trials at Burnham but never went to the Berlin Games. The following year, Mitchell enjoyed many wins in his own star class vessel Carlarena and, also in 1937, he married crew member Jean Hepworth.

Mitchell eventually got to make his Olympic début in 1960 when he and Jean finished 24th in the star class. Mitchell was the commodore of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at the time, holding the post from 1959-61. A qualified pilot since 1950, Roy Mitchell died at his Market Deeping home in 1968 at the age of 53. He was chairman of the family engineering company at the time.