Humphrey Blake Playford (born 1896) was an English rower

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 Silver Goblets 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...

.

Playford was born in the Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...

 district. He served in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 as a lieutenant. but afterwards attended Jesus College, Cambridge

Jesus College, Cambridge

Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...

. Playford was 6 ft 5in with a long reach and rowed in 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 Boat Race in 1920, and 1921. Also in 1921 he won Silver Goblets at Henley in a coxed pair

Coxed pair

A coxed pair is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a coxswain....

 with John Campbell

John Campbell (rower)

John Alan Campbell was a British rower who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.Campbell was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He rowed for Cambridge in the Boat Race in 1920. In 1920 he was a crew member of the British boat, which won the silver medal in the...

, defeating Guy Oliver Nickalls

Guy Oliver Nickalls

Guy Oliver Nickalls , also known as Gully Nickalls, was a British rower who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics and in the 1928 Summer Olympics.-Life:...

 and Richard Lucas in the final. Playford rowed for the winning Cambridge crew in the Boat Race again in 1922.

Playford took Holy Orders and became a schoolmaster. From 1940 to 1953 he was a housemaster at Stowe School

Stowe School

Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...

. He wrote histories of Jesus College Boat Club

Jesus College Boat Club (Cambridge)

Jesus College Boat Club is the rowing club for members of Jesus College, Cambridge. Over the years, it has been consistently successful, with the 1st Men's VIII never having dropped below 12th place in the May Bumps and 11th position in the Lent Bumps...

.

Publications

• F. Brittain and H. B. Playford The Jesus College Boat Club, Cambridge Cambridge 1928
• F. Brittain and H. B. Playford The Jesus College, Cambridge, Boat Club, 1827-1962 Cambridge 1962