Canon Noel Duckworth
Encyclopedia
John Noel Duckworth M.A., T.D., was a Canon
of Accra
and the first Chaplain
of Churchill College
.
Duckworth was born at Goole, the son of James Duckworth and his wife Nancy Sumner. He went to Cambridge University and cox
ed the winning Cambridge
crews in the 1934, 1935 and 1936 Boat Races. In 1936 he coxed the Great Britain eight
which came fourth at the 1936 Summer Olympics
in Berlin.
During World War II
Duckworth spent time in Pudu Gaol, in Changi Prison
, a prisoner-of-war camp
where he acted as chaplain
. His work in the camp was documented in Russell Braddon
's "The Naked Island". He appeared on 'This is your life' in 1959.
Duckworth joined Churchill College
in 1961, where he helped found both the Chapel at Churchill College and Churchill College Boat Club
. He was also a staunch defender of women's rowing
, acting as coach to the Cambridge University Women's Boat Club
(whom he referred to as the Perspiring Persephones and the Sweaty Bettys) and helping to organise their defence campaign when the President of the Cambridge University Boat Club
attempted in 1964 to have them banned from the Bumps race
s, an attempt which ultimately failed. He retired in 1973.
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
and the first Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of Churchill College
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
.
Duckworth was born at Goole, the son of James Duckworth and his wife Nancy Sumner. He went to Cambridge University and cox
Coxswain (rowing)
In a crew, the coxswain is the member who sits in the stern facing the bow, steers the boat, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.- Role :The role of a coxswain within a crew is to:...
ed the winning Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
crews in the 1934, 1935 and 1936 Boat Races. In 1936 he coxed the Great Britain eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
which came fourth at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Duckworth spent time in Pudu Gaol, in Changi Prison
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
, a prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
where he acted as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
. His work in the camp was documented in Russell Braddon
Russell Braddon
Russell Reading Braddon was an Australian writer of novels, biographies and TV scripts. His chronicle of his four years as a prisoner of war, The Naked Island, sold more than a million copies....
's "The Naked Island". He appeared on 'This is your life' in 1959.
Duckworth joined Churchill College
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
in 1961, where he helped found both the Chapel at Churchill College and Churchill College Boat Club
Churchill College Boat Club
Churchill College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Churchill College, Cambridge.The club colours are pink and brown, chosen as they are Sir Winston Churchill's racing colours. In recent years, the club has become famous for its lurid pink shells. The men's 1st VIII started the trend in...
. He was also a staunch defender of women's rowing
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...
, acting as coach to the Cambridge University Women's Boat Club
Cambridge University Women's Boat Club
Cambridge University Women's Boat Club is the University rowing club for women at the University of Cambridge. CUWBC field three crews to race against Oxford in the Henley Boat Races, these are the Blue Boat — the women's heavyweight VIII, the Lightweight Boat — the women's lightweight VIII and...
(whom he referred to as the Perspiring Persephones and the Sweaty Bettys) and helping to organise their defence campaign when the President of the Cambridge University Boat Club
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
attempted in 1964 to have them banned from the Bumps race
Bumps race
A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each boat attempting to catch and "bump" the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind....
s, an attempt which ultimately failed. He retired in 1973.