John Robert Giles died on 13th January 2026 aged 90. He was at Emmanuel College Cambridge from 1956 to 1960. Among his many talents, JRG was a fine oarsman who made a significant contribution to the run of success that Emmanuel Boat Club (EBC) enjoyed in the late ‘50s. He was selected to row in what became a classic Cambridge VIII that comfortably won the 1958 Boat Race. He gained a further Blue in 1959 when it was muted, that the outcome of The Boat Race might have been better had he stroked the boat.
John’s articulate, thought provoking and scholarly manner, combined with his modesty and bespectacled appearance tended to conceal his athletic prowess; that is until one spied the shield on his mantelpiece showing that he was the Army 400m hurdles champion in 1954 during his National Service. Before that he had established himself at Winchester College in athletics and rowing, representing the School in both. He stroked the first VIII, winning the Schools Head of the River & the Princess Elizabeth Cup, Henley in 1954.
John’s rowing achievements for the EBC included stroking the winning Light IVs in 1957 & 1958, a victory last achieved by in 1867! He rowed in the First May Boat during each of his 4 years. Between 1957 & 1959, Emma climbed from 8th to 3rd. 1959 proved to be an excellent year for EBC with a wonderful esprit de corps, to which John contributed. It is gratifying to note that Emma scored 16 bumps among their 7 crews in the Mays, only being bumped twice. They also won 5 of the 8 small boat events on the Cam. JRG again proved himself as a stroke in the Magdalene Pairs event winning in a record time of 7min 33secs. 1960 presented a golden opportunity to go head of the Mays but it was not to be. Despite closing on second placed Jesus each day, no bump was achieved. John was also involved in coaching College crews enabling the 2nd May Boat to achieve 4 bumps in 1958 when he was EBC Secretary,
At Henley, John’s input helped the College to reach the semifinals of the Ladies Plate in 1957, ’58 & ’59. In 1959 John stroked the Emma VIII, probably the College best for some years. Even so, the semifinal proved to be a tough contest with St. Edmund Hall, head of the river at Oxford. The race started evenly up to the barrier, when the opposition moved ahead by 2/3rds of a length. John, at stroke, kept his ‘cool’, striking just 29 strokes per minute. At the mile post he slowly raised the rating keeping the length & timing. Emma drew level and with a final spurt along the enclosures won by 1/2 length, driving themselves to produce the fastest time of the day. In the final, a tired Emma crew sadly succumbed to Lady Margaret Boat Club, Head of the River at Cambridge.
John was known in the EBC for his keen and occasionally eccentric sense of humour. At one bump supper speech, John rendered his version of Genesis 1. “Man was created to row and water was created on which to row”, then followed his quotation on the procreation of more oarsmen! On another occasion, after a practice row down the Long Reach, John announced in a loud voice “Ladies and gentlemen, I have just completed my millionth rowing stroke!” Memory suggests that there was applause even from the towpath.
Away from the river, John had many other interests. Academically, he read History moving to Theology as Needham Windsor Scholar in his post graduate year. He also gained his college athletic colours in hurdling. John was a keen supporter of the College Chapel, singing in the Choir. His appointment as Warden to the Chapel in 1957 reflected his commitment and calling to his future Ministry in the Anglican Church. He was a member of the Hugh Burnaby Society and supported the Emmanuel Youth Club in Southwark. With a few College friends he visited needy children in Oakhampton from time to time. He loved music playing the piano and his recorder. John regaled one post bump supper gathering in Chapman’s Garden with his recorder, whilst sitting cross-legged on the college trolley. John supported soirees arranged by the College ‘XII Club’. At one event, the ladies of Newnham College were entertained to a dance at which John was introduced to Jill Hornblower, later to become his wife..
After Cambridge John entered Rippon Hall Theological College in Oxford which suited his theological stance. He went on to be an open and inclusive priest, which with his strong and practical faith, which made him well suited to his long and varied ministry. His first curacy was at St Margaret’s Lowestoft in the Norwich Diocese, This was followed by seven years as the first chaplain to the new University of East Anglia, then to Southwark as Rector of St James’ Kidbrooke, followed by a move to Sheffield as Vicar of St Mark’s Broomhall, going on to be a Residential Canon of Sheffield Cathedral, including a spell as Industrial Chaplain. He ended his formal ministry at Lee, back in the Southwark Diocese before retiring with his beloved Jill to Aldeburgh, where sailing on the Alde and the music of Benjamin Britten at the Maltings became new interests. Of their 3 sons, the eldest Robert rowed at Oxford gaining a Trial Cap, later to become a school teacher. Their daughter Kate is well established as a landscape artist.
Over the years, JRG maintained his interest in rowing. During his curacy in Norwich, he occasionally took to pairing with his Bishop Lancelot Fleming. Later he double-skulled with his son, Robert who was the rowing master at Tiffin’s School, Kingston. During the 1980s John coached the Sheffield University crews. He regularly attended The Boat Race and Henley. On several occasions he preached at the Henley Regatta Church Service and gave a stimulating address at the 150th Boat Race Celebration Service, held at Great St Mary’s University Church, Cambridge in 2004 – a text worth reading! More recently John was made an Honorary Life Member of Leander Club.
Of course, ‘boating’ was in John’s blood. He and his twin brother David grew up in the boating centre of Lymington. Their father, ‘Jack’ Laurant Giles, was a distinguished naval architect, also famous for his many sailing boat designs. Twin brother David followed in his father’s profession.
Written by friend Michael Edgar