Sidney Ernest SWANN

Sidney Swann, who was educated at Rugby and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, was a member of a family rich in sporting talent. He father rowed in the Boat Race three times, won the 25-mile bicycle race against Oxford in 1884 and rowed across the Channel single-handed at the age of 49. His brother, Arthur, was equally versatile winning a blue for athletics in 1913 and for rowing in 1920. On his first appearance at Henley in 1910, Sidney Swann stroked Trinity Hall to victory in both the Visitors’ and the Wyfold and he was in the Cambridge boat in 1911, 1912 and 1913. In 1913 he was also the winning Leander eight in the Grand and won the Goblets that year partnered by his brother, Arthur, a victory of Swann brothers were to repeat in 1914. A unique record was set in the eights at the 1912 Olympics when, of the 18 men in the final, Sidney Swann was the only one who had not attended Oxford University. Following the family tradition, Sidney Swann entered the Church and after war service won an Olympic silver medal in the eights of Antwerp. His clerical duties took him to Africa from 1926 to 1933 and in 1941 he was appointed Chaplain to King George VI.