James Page (rower)
Encyclopedia
James Houghton Page OBE
TD
(14 January 1900 – 16 December 1977) was a British rower
who was secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association
from 1952 to 1972.
, where he was captain of shooting, before attending Jesus College, Oxford
, where he was captain of the boat club
. He was a master at St Paul's School from 1926 to 1963, where he was a rowing coach. He maintained links with Oxford, successfully coaching Oriel College from their position in 21st place in 1928 to become Head of the River
between 1933 and 1936. He also coached Oxford
and Cambridge Boat Clubs
at various times. He was captain of Thames Rowing Club
in 1934 and in 1947–48. In 1952, he became honorary secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association
(secretary from 1963 onwards), retiring in 1972. He was elected as Master of the Broderers' Company in 1960, a steward of the Henley Royal Regatta
in 1962, and Master of the Fletchers' Company in 1971.
Page also served in the Armed Forces and the police. He was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery
in 1918 and joined the Territorial Army whilst at Oxford. During the Second World War, Page commanded the 52nd Anti-Tank Regiment from 1939 onwards, before transferring to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
. He served in India as a pilot officer
, serving until 1947 when he retired with the rank of wing commander
. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
on retirement. He also received the Territorial Decoration
for his services. He became a special constable
with the City of London Police
in 1933, rising to the rank of superintendent in 1963. He died on 16 December 1977.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(14 January 1900 – 16 December 1977) was a British rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who was secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association
Amateur Rowing Association
British Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association , is the governing body in England for the sport of rowing. It is also responsible for the development and organisation of international rowing teams representing Great Britain...
from 1952 to 1972.
Life
Page was born on 14 January 1900. He went to school at Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
, where he was captain of shooting, before attending Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, where he was captain of the boat club
Jesus College Boat Club (Oxford)
Jesus College Boat Club is a rowing club for members of Jesus College, Oxford, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford...
. He was a master at St Paul's School from 1926 to 1963, where he was a rowing coach. He maintained links with Oxford, successfully coaching Oriel College from their position in 21st place in 1928 to become Head of the River
Head of the River
A Head of the River race is a rowing race, held as a procession race against the clock, with the winning crew receiving the title of "Head of the River"...
between 1933 and 1936. He also coached Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
and Cambridge Boat Clubs
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
at various times. He was captain of Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club is a rowing club situated on the River Thames in Putney, London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1860.-Club colours:Red, white and black in stripes, the white stripe lying between the red and black and being of half their width....
in 1934 and in 1947–48. In 1952, he became honorary secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association
Amateur Rowing Association
British Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association , is the governing body in England for the sport of rowing. It is also responsible for the development and organisation of international rowing teams representing Great Britain...
(secretary from 1963 onwards), retiring in 1972. He was elected as Master of the Broderers' Company in 1960, a steward of the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in 1962, and Master of the Fletchers' Company in 1971.
Page also served in the Armed Forces and the police. He was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
in 1918 and joined the Territorial Army whilst at Oxford. During the Second World War, Page commanded the 52nd Anti-Tank Regiment from 1939 onwards, before transferring to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
. He served in India as a pilot officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
, serving until 1947 when he retired with the rank of wing commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
on retirement. He also received the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
for his services. He became a special constable
Special constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
with the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
in 1933, rising to the rank of superintendent in 1963. He died on 16 December 1977.