John Meyrick
Encyclopedia
Sir David John Charlton Meyrick, 4th Baronet (2 December 1926 – 6 February 2004) was a British
agriculturalist and rower
who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics
.
Meyrick was born in Towcester
, Northamptonshire
, the eldest son of Colonel Sir Thomas Meyrick, 3rd Baronet, and his wife Ivy (née Pilkington). He was educated at Eton
, where he was an excellent rower, and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
. He rowed for Trinity Hall in the Head of the River race. In 1947 and 1948, he was a member of the victorious Cambridge
crews in the Boat Races. Most of the Cambridge crew of 1948 also rowed for Leander Club
and Meyrick stroked the eight at Henley Royal Regatta
. The Leander eight were selected to row for Great Britain in the 1948 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal.
After university, Meyrick became resident land agent on the Earl of Coventry
's Croome Estate in Worcestershire. Seven years later he moved to Pembrokeshire and began farming. The family had lived in Pembrokeshire since the 16th century. He succeeded in the baronetcy
on the death of his father in 1983 and inherited the family home at Gumfreston.
He was on the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society
, as the South Wales representative, a steward at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, and a member of the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' and Rural Business Association in Pembrokeshire.
Meyrick suffered a stroke at the age of 60 and died at Pembroke
at the age of 77.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
agriculturalist and 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 competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
.
Meyrick was born in Towcester
Towcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, the eldest son of Colonel Sir Thomas Meyrick, 3rd Baronet, and his wife Ivy (née Pilkington). He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where he was an excellent rower, and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
. He rowed for Trinity Hall in the Head of the River race. In 1947 and 1948, he was a member of the victorious Cambridge
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...
crews in the Boat Races. Most of the Cambridge crew of 1948 also rowed for Leander Club
Leander Club
Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is based in Remenham in the English county of Berkshire, adjoining Henley-on-Thames...
and Meyrick stroked the eight at 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...
. The Leander eight were selected to row for Great Britain in the 1948 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal.
After university, Meyrick became resident land agent on the Earl of Coventry
Earl of Coventry
Earl of Coventry is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England. It was created for the first time in 1623 in favour of George Villiers, 1st Marquess of Buckingham. He was made Duke of Buckingham at the same time. For more information on this creation of the earldom, see the...
's Croome Estate in Worcestershire. Seven years later he moved to Pembrokeshire and began farming. The family had lived in Pembrokeshire since the 16th century. He succeeded in the baronetcy
Meyrick Baronets
The Meyrick Baronetcy, of Bush in the County of Pembroke, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 5 May 1880 for Thomas Meyrick, Conservative Member of Parliament for Pembroke from 1868 to 1874. Born John Charlton, he had assumed by Royal license the surname of Meyrick...
on the death of his father in 1983 and inherited the family home at Gumfreston.
He was on the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society
The Royal Agricultural Society of England was established in the United Kingdom in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science". The RASE aim is to promote the scientific development of agriculture. The society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1840.From its early days the society...
, as the South Wales representative, a steward at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, and a member of the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' and Rural Business Association in Pembrokeshire.
Meyrick suffered a stroke at the age of 60 and died at Pembroke
Pembroke, Pembrokeshire
Pembroke is an historic settlement and former county town of Pembrokeshire in west Wales. The town and the county derive their name from that of the cantref of Penfro: Pen = "head" or "end", and bro = "region", "country", "land", and so it means essentially "Land's End".-History:The main point of...
at the age of 77.
See also
- List of Cambridge University Boat Race crews
- Rowing at the 1948 Summer OlympicsRowing at the 1948 Summer OlympicsRowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics featured 7 events, for men only. Competitions were held over the Henley Royal Regatta course from August 5, 1948 to August 9, 1948.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...