Words: Sarah-Kate Roberts, Annie Vernon

It is with great sadness that Cambridge University Boat Club has announced the death of Donald Legget, long-time coach of CUBC, who passed away last week at the age of 84.

Donald came up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in the autumn of 1961 as an Exhibitioner from Radley College to read Classics and Law. He won his Blue in his second year before rowing again in the fast and victorious 1964 Blue Boat, where he was famously known as the “HBE” — the Heaviest Bow Ever.

After Cambridge, Donald rowed for Leander Club and was elected captain before beginning his coaching career in 1966 with the Leander Cadet Squad. In 1968, CUBC President Patrick Delafield invited him to coach the Light Blues. Cambridge won that year’s Boat Race and, with Donald as a key member of the coaching team, went on to win the next five Blue Boat and reserve races.

Throughout the 1970s, Donald combined teaching Classics at his former preparatory school with coaching commitments at both CUBC and Leander. He coached Chris Baillieu and Mike Hart to an Olympic silver medal in the double sculls at the 1976 Olympic Games. Thereafter, he remained a part of every CUBC men’s squad coaching team, while also coaching at Radley College and St Paul’s School.

Donald became renowned throughout the sport for his exceptional “eye” — an almost instinctive ability to identify faults in a crew or oarsman’s technique and correct them with remarkable speed and precision. Generations of rowers benefited from his wisdom, honesty, humour and unwavering commitment to helping athletes reach their full potential.

Sean Bowden, long-time Oxford University Boat Club coach, commented:

“Donald was very much the ever present and evergreen member of the Light Blue coaching staff helping countless rowers over the decades to not just success on the water but a deep appreciation of the sport and sense of fellowship within the CUBC community. Whilst shunning the limelight in may ways there was something a little theatrical about Donald whether coaching from his Raleigh Chopper bicycle or wrapped up in a giant orange duvet jacket on the launch. His cutting wit and long list of humorous anecdotes made him fun to be around as well as a good foil for any coaching team often absorbed in the pressures of the upcoming race.

“It was in his position as second fiddle that Donald really excelled either as the supporting voice in the launch or coaching his beloved Goldie crews. A difficult role to pull off but one that Donald was able to play with expertise and sensitivity allowing his knowledge and experience to come through whilst being there to support the greater needs of the programme. Donald would no doubt have seen it all and time and again rowers and coaches sought his wisdom and his fabled keen eye for the stroke. Very far from an old fogey, Donald kept up and was current with his thinking and was able to communicate with and connect exceptionally well with young people.

“Whilst hugely competitive and determined to see his crews succeed, Donald was always friendly on the bank and maintained a perspective and wider understanding of the Boat Race and the sport in general maintaining a graciousness with success and in defeat. A larger-than-life character, a one of a kind and a bit of a rebel for sure but also, to those that knew him well, a highly intelligent and thoughtful man well beyond his accepted tow path persona. There is no doubt that Donald will be missed.”

Stephen Peel, CUBC Club Chair, reflected:

“I first met Donald as an eighteen-year old undergraduate CUBC trialist.  He gave me the moniker, “Peel from King-sized Chesterfield”.  Donald placed all of us on a scale from “f….ing useless” to “not that bad”.  We constantly sought his affirmation of where on the spectrum we sat.  One of my greatest achievements in rowing was eventually earning the accolade from Donald of “potentially quite useful”.  He followed his athlete’s post rowing careers with pride and we remained closely in touch over the years until I came back to Masters rowing at Crabtree.  Donald generously coached us.  “Peel you row like something out of the 1980s”.  He was brilliant, unique and had a huge heart.”

Pat Wild, the four-man of the victorious 2026 Men’s Blue Boat — the final crew Donald coached for CUBC — shared:

“Donald was an extraordinary coach to me at both St Paul’s and Cambridge. No matter his own condition, he was always determined to be at as many sessions as possible, simply because he loved being out on the water with us and helping us develop. He cared deeply about the crews he coached and, just as importantly, about our lives beyond rowing. More than anything, I think it was his genuine interest in my well-being and development as a person that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Chief Men’s Coach and long-time friend Rob Baker said:

“Donald’s legacy at Cambridge is so hard to put in a few words, as a coach I have to talk about his incredible eye for the sport, he knew how boats moved and could unpick crew issues in an instant. Donald had a particularly great way with individuals and I often encouraged him to sit down with ’tricky cases’! These athletes often became the closest to Donald, the time he spent, the care and attention he had in helping these athletes to improve meant they became very close to him over the years.

“What is hugely overlooked in Donald was his loyalty and friendship. His sometimes colourful language could often hide his care and love. Donald was a fierce friend to a few and I count myself as one of them. I first met Donald in the Henley of 2001 just before I started at the CUBC. We became quick friends. When I came back from Ireland to coach the then CUWBC, Donald became our biggest fan! A surprise to some. After our CUBC spare four won the Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley in 2003 he would often say I was “a terrible boatman but a good coach;” a comment I took with some pride at the time.

“I will miss our weekly chats, the regular messaging we would have, videos sent, comments made. I will miss his intellect, his wit and his friendship.”

Donald will be hugely missed by the Club. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family, including his brother Robert and sister Clare.In accordance with his wishes, his funeral will be a private family occasion.

The CUBC will organise a celebration of his life later this year and will share details with members in due course.