Chris Lloyd was born in Cambridge in 1941, and attended St Faith’s School, followed by Oundle School, where he was first introduced to the sport of rowing. In his final year at Oundle he stroked their crew in the final of the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, losing in the final by just a few feet. During school holidays he rowed for Cambridge ’99 Rowing Club. He continued to row, at Christ’s College, Cambridge stroking their First Boat in the May Bumps, and trialling for CUBC.

In 1976, he returned to Cambridge as Head of the junior section of St Faith’s School. He played rugby at Cambridge and Shelford Rugby Clubs before settling at Cantabrigian Rugby Club where he played into his 50’s. He started coaching at Christ’s College Boat Club and rowed regularly with Cambridge Veteran Rowing Club.

He left teaching in 1978 to become landlord of the Free Press pub where he soon established his own Boat Club. With Free Press BC he rowed in many local, national and international events, including Vesta Veterans Head, Rhine Marathon, Head of the Charles and a friendship exchange with CC Aniene of Rome and OUBC, which ran from 1982 to 2012. He coached numerous college crews including Churchill and Christ’s colleges, as well as the CUWBC Blondie crew.

In addition to his club responsibilities, he was a Vice-President and Trustee of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association and served on the CRA’s Bumps Committee.

His competitive rowing career was cut short by a fall resulting in a broken hip in 2011, but he participated in recreational outings, picking up a blade for the final time in 2013.

In parallel with running the pubs, having bought and reopened the Cambridge Blue in 1985, he worked as Assistant Boatman at Churchill College from 1990 to 2013, alongside Boatman Jim Cameron.

As well as being on the bank for Churchill crews during the Bumps, he was always willing to help at local rowing events when not in a boat himself, including the CRA Winter League and Time Race. His final event as an official was just last year, when he took charge of the finish hooter for the Time Race, clearly enjoying still being useful at a mere 82 years of age.

After 17 years of retirement Chris died very peacefully in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, on 2nd May 2024, following a brief illness.