John Noel Duckworth (25 December 1912 - 24 November 1980), 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 coxed 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 races, an attempt which ultimately failed. He retired in 1973.
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