Alfred Dicker
Encyclopedia
Alfred Cecil Dicker was an English clergyman and rower
who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls
at Henley Royal Regatta
three times and the Wingfield Sculls twice.
Dicker was born at St John's Wood, London, the son of John Campbell Dicker. He was educated at Winchester College
and entered St John's College, Cambridge
in 1871, migrating to Downing College, Cambridge
in 1877 and gaining his BA in 1879. He kept up rowing throughout his time at Cambridge, rowing for Lady Margaret Boat Club
. He challenged for the Wingfield Sculls in 1872. In 1873 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley. He also won the Wingfield Sculls beating the previous champion Clement Courtenay Knollys
and the Colquhoun Sculls at Cambridge University. In 1874, he won both the Diamond Challenge Sculls and the Wingfirld Sculls again. In 1875 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls again, but lost the Wingfield Sculls to Frank Lumley Playford
. Dicker remained at Cambridge to study for Holy Orders and took part in the 1876 Boat Race. His style was described "rows fairly hard, but in a very ugly humped-up form and with little swing." His elder brother Gerard Dicker had been in the crew the previous year.
Dicker was ordained deacon
in 1879 and priest in 1880. He became curate of St Mary's Kilburn in 1879 and in 1881 became vicar of All Saints' Church, Newchurch
where he instigated a restoration of the church in 1883. In 1893 he became rector of St Maurice's with St Mary's Kalendar and St Peter's Colebrooke, Winchester
until 1906 when he moved to become rector of St Peter's Church, Lowick
with Slipton, Northamptonshire
. He retired in 1925 and lived at Boar's Hill, Oxford.
Dicker died at the age of 86 and was buried at Wootton.
Dicker married Constance Ellen MacEwen at Portsea in 1885.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls
Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
three times and the Wingfield Sculls twice.
Dicker was born at St John's Wood, London, the son of John Campbell Dicker. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and entered St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1871, migrating to Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
in 1877 and gaining his BA in 1879. He kept up rowing throughout his time at Cambridge, rowing for Lady Margaret Boat Club
Lady Margaret Boat Club
The Lady Margaret Boat Club , is the rowing club for members of St John's College, Cambridge, England. The club is named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, foundress of the College.- History :...
. He challenged for the Wingfield Sculls in 1872. In 1873 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley. He also won the Wingfield Sculls beating the previous champion Clement Courtenay Knollys
Clement Courtenay Knollys
Sir Clement Courtenay Knollys KCMG was a British rower and colonial administrator and governor.Knollys was the son of Rev. Erskine Knollys and his wife Caroline Augusta North. His father was rector at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, among other parishes.. He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford...
and the Colquhoun Sculls at Cambridge University. In 1874, he won both the Diamond Challenge Sculls and the Wingfirld Sculls again. In 1875 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls again, but lost the Wingfield Sculls to Frank Lumley Playford
Frank Lumley Playford
Frank Lumley Playford was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls five times and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1876....
. Dicker remained at Cambridge to study for Holy Orders and took part in the 1876 Boat Race. His style was described "rows fairly hard, but in a very ugly humped-up form and with little swing." His elder brother Gerard Dicker had been in the crew the previous year.
Dicker was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1879 and priest in 1880. He became curate of St Mary's Kilburn in 1879 and in 1881 became vicar of All Saints' Church, Newchurch
All Saints' Church, Newchurch
All Saints' Church, Newchurch is a parish church in the Church of England located in Newchurch, Isle of Wight, England. The church is medieval dating from the 13th century. In 1883, restoration of the church was carried out by A.R. Barker, at the instigation of the vicar Rev...
where he instigated a restoration of the church in 1883. In 1893 he became rector of St Maurice's with St Mary's Kalendar and St Peter's Colebrooke, Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
until 1906 when he moved to become rector of St Peter's Church, Lowick
St Peter's Church, Lowick
St. Peter's Church, Lowick, is a parish church in the Church of England in Lowick, Northamptonshire, England.-Description and history:Although the church has early fourteenth century origins, it is mainly late fourteenth and early fifteenth century, being built for the Greene family of Drayton House...
with Slipton, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. He retired in 1925 and lived at Boar's Hill, Oxford.
Dicker died at the age of 86 and was buried at Wootton.
Dicker married Constance Ellen MacEwen at Portsea in 1885.