Leslie Frank SOUTHWOOD

On leaving Latymer Upper School, Dick Southwood initially joined the Auriol Rowing Club where his sculling potential was spotted by Jack Beresford, Jr.. He then joined Beresford at the London Rowing Club and made his Olympic début in 1932 when he reached the final of the single sculls only to finish in last place following an attack of cramp in his left shoulder. Four years later in Berlin, Southwood partnered Jack Beresford in the double sculls and they scored a sensational victory over the Germans in the final. Beresford and Southwood got together again in 1939 when a double sculls event was introduced to mark the centenary of the Henley Regatta and they dead-heated with the Italian pair, Scherli and Broschi, who were the reigning European champions. This was Dick Southwood’s only success at Henley but in 1933 he won the prestigious Wingfield Sculls for the sculling championship of the Thames and his time of 21 minutes 11 seconds stood as a course record for many years.