The Boat Race was extremely sad to hear of the death on 15 February 2026 of Roger Silk, who coached generations of Cambridge women’s crews to success in the Women’s Boat Race.
Silk was the boatman at Lady Margaret Boat Club (the boat club of St John’s College, Cambridge) for over 40 years, from 1961 to 2002.
At the same time, he was appointed Chief Coach of Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club in 1984, helping to establish a successful era for the Light Blues and supporting athletes who would go on to compete internationally. He was twice selected to coach the GB Rowing Team.
He is remembered with great fondness by all of the rowers whom he supported and encouraged throughout a period of tremendous development and change for women’s rowing.
Both St John’s College and Cambridge University Boat Club have published wonderful tributes to him, which an be read here:
Legendary ‘Maggie man’ and champion of women’s rowing dies aged 88 >>