The Club is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dr David Earl (LMBC), who earned his Blue in 1967, rowing in the 7-seat of the 113th Boat Race.
Ahead of the 1967 race, Donald Legget, writing in The Observer, described the Cambridge crew as ‘possibly the fastest ever,’ yet still tipped Oxford as favourites by two lengths. Despite a strong performance from Cambridge, Oxford’s power and astute steering secured victory for the Dark Blues.
Said crewmate and 1968 president Pat Delafield, “David told me he once sculled 10 miles without stopping. I believe him. He had the longest reach of anyone I ever rowed with.
David represented the third certainty in life: death, taxes, and the fact that a good man can’t get through a day without a bowl of chips. Farewell Chipper. What a good man!
I had the hardest duty of any CUBC President when I had to go and tell him that he wasn’t going to get back into the Blue Boat in 1968 after he had rowed in the 1967 crew. He fell and broke his wrist in January and there was not the slightest hope that he was going to recover enough in time to keep pace with our hugely developed training schedule.”
Geoff Leggett, 4-man of the 1967 crew added, “A sad farewell to a fellow biker….Never understood how he could move a sculling boat so bloody fast!”
David matriculated at St John’s College in 1965 to read Natural Sciences, later completing a degree in Clinical Medicine. His rowing achievements extended well beyond Cambridge: he accomplished the extraordinary feat of winning both the Ladies’ Plate and the Visitors’ Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta — on the same day.
Reflects David’s son Gareth, “We also had a great day out at Henley in 1997 where we saw Goldie win the Temple Challenge Cup with a crew that included three of my friends from Caius. Dad had bought a Goldie blazer for the occasion, and we watched the final commence from the start line. With both crews under orders at backstops and the tension at its peak, Dad shouted from the bank ‘GOLDIE, THIS IS YOUR RACE!’.
By the time we had made our way back to Leander, the victorious crew were getting stuck into the Champagne but mobbed Dad as soon as they saw him, saying that he had inspired them to the win. I spent most of my time at Cambridge swimming, but the few terms I did row Dad was a very vocal supporter – Caius 3rd VIII, Mays 1998 being the highlight. Much more recently, Dad was delighted to watch my eldest son row in his first ever regatta for Hampton School.”
Throughout his life, David remained a committed supporter of CUBC, staying closely connected to the Club and its community. His presence and friendship will be greatly missed by his crewmates and all who knew him. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Gareth and the rest of his family and friends.