For more than four decades, Roger Silk led Lady Margaret Boat Club – the oldest and largest college boat club in Cambridge known as ‘Maggie’ – through one of the most successful eras in its history. Roger died on 15 February 2026 aged 88.
Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s, said: “Roger was a Maggie man through and through whose passing will be mourned by the generations of rowers to whom he gave so much encouragement and support.
“A fantastic Boatman, Roger was a loyal, utterly reliable, and outstanding coach for countless crews, and among his many contributions to the sport he served so well, he stands out as a champion of women’s rowing at St John’s and the University. Roger will be remembered at John’s with affection and gratitude.”
Before joining St John’s in the 1960s, Roger completed national service with the Grenadier Guards and worked for Bahama Boat Builders, where he developed the technical skills that would underpin his long career. During his time at LMBC, the club achieved Headship in the May Bumps ten times, including its first women’s Headship.
In 1984 he became Chief Coach of Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club, helping to establish a successful era for the Light Blues and supporting athletes who would go on to compete internationally. He was twice selected for the GB rowing coaching team. In 1992 he coached the women’s coxless pair to a silver medal in the Under 23 Championships, while in 1999 he coached the women’s coxless four at the World Championships.
As Boatman of LMBC for 41 years, he guided crews to victories and through defeats, encouraging countless students to discover rowing for the first time.
“He supported women’s rowing unreservedly, he made space and brought in world-class coaches”
Among them were Olympian Annamarie Phelps CBE, who arrived at St John’s as a novice, and David Biddulph BEM, a British and World Rowing umpire who officiated at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Roger coached Annamarie at LMBC and later for Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC) in Blondie in 1987.
She reflected: “Roger, you will always be the first person in my rowing journey from the LMBC second novice Lents eight in 1985, though six World Championships, four medals and an Olympic Games to Vice President of World Rowing in 2026, you have always been there to lean on.
“Thank you for making rowing fun and inspiring me to keep working at it, even when I couldn’t get my blade in the water fast enough. Thanks for believing in me as an athlete and an administrator; for calling to give advice, to ask for advice, for persuading me to stand as Chair of CUWBC and for celebrating my appointment to the unified CUBC.
“Thank you for supporting women’s rowing unreservedly, making the women at LMBC welcome. When CUWBC had no boathouse, no boats, no money, no coaches, you made space at LMBC and brought in world-class coaches, Ron Needs, Mike Spracklen and others.”
“Roger gave us a taste of success, of opportunity and so many reasons to celebrate, laugh and have fun”
David, who came up to St John’s to study Engineering in 1969, said: “I have particular grounds for being grateful to Roger, for on my first outing coxing an eight at LMBC I ploughed into the stern of a moored cruiser and took the boat back 3ft shorter.
“A less tolerant Boatman than Roger would have told me never to darken the doors of his boathouse again, but Roger took it in his stride as usual, and I have gone onto enjoy a lifetime in rowing. Roger and I went on to have well over 50 years of friendship. He will be sadly missed by his many friends, in Cambridge and further afield.”
Roger officially retired from St John’s in 2002 and 160 former members of LMBC came to College to give him the send-off he deserved during a dinner in Hall. Attendees, dressed in trademark red blazers, heard how his success extended beyond coaching results because he was always willing to innovate.
His experiments ranged from using CCTV to study rowing technique during erg training to modifying an erg so it could be used as a sweep-oar machine. He was also the first Boatman to coach from an electric bike following an operation on his knee.
After retirement, his influence continued through the athletes, coaches and sporting administrators whose careers he had helped to shape.
Gerald Roebroeks, who took over from him as Boatman, said: “When Roger officially retired at 65, I took over as the LMBC Boatman, or did I? Rowing and LMBC were such a big part of his life, of his DNA really, that he kept coming to the boathouse and contributing to the club and the sport. In fact, as I moved on after five years he still remained part of the boathouse for many, many years.”
Annamarie summed up his enduring impact by saying: “Roger, you gave me and others a taste of success, of opportunity and so many reasons to celebrate, laugh and have fun. You are a legend, thank you.”
And Mark Briegal, who came up to St John’s to study Classics in 1980, said simply: “The Cam won’t be the same without Roger.”
Roger’s son, Andy, and his wife, Janet, died before him. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa, and grandson, Sam.
The Boathouse flag flew at half-mast in his honour.
