John Garton, who died in his sleep on the night of Thursday 23rd May, was one of the most distinguished administrators in the history of British rowing.
He was elected a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta in 1959, was soon elected to the Committee of Management, and succeeded the late Harold Rickett as Chairman in 1965. He served in that post until 1978, a period of major financial re-structuring for the Regatta, and thereafter was President of the Regatta.
He succeeded Harold Rickett as President of the Amateur Rowing Association in January 1969, and remained as President until 1977, when he was appointed Honorary Life Vice-President. In the New Year Honours List 1974 he was awarded the CBE for services to rowing.
John had rowed for Eton and Magdalen, and rowed for Oxford at bow in 1938 and at 2 in 1939.
There will doubtless be many tributes to him over the coming weeks. He will be sadly missed, though his name will live on in the Garton calendar, which is the means by which the dates of Henley Royal Regatta and hence other major regattas are determined.
[Obituaries in The Times & the Guardian.]
Page produced 27 May 2002, last updated 23 March 2021.
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