Roger Close-Brooks DSO (2 November 1906 – 17 May 1980) was an English rower. He competed in the eights at the 1930 British Empire Games for England and won a gold medal.[3]

Roger Close-Brooks
Personal information
NationalityBritish (English)
Born(1906-11-02)2 November 1906
Died17 May 1980[2]
Southampton, England
Sport
SportRowing
EventEights
ClubLondon RC
Medal record
Men's Rowing
Representing  England
British Empire Games
Gold medal – first place1930 HamiltonEights

Biography

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He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge.[4]

He competed for the 1930 English team in the eights event[5] at the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada[6] and won a gold medal.

He was a stockbroker's clerk at the time of the 1930 Games.[7]

In 1934, he married Marian, second daughter of Gerald Beesly, J.P. and Helen (née Chamberlain), who was a cousin of Neville Chamberlain. Marian was the sister of rower Richard Beesly (1907–1965), who won an Olympic gold medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics; and writer Patrick Beesly.[8]

On 24 May 1940 he was promoted to 2nd Lt of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry[9] and during World War II in 1944 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[10]

References

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  1. 1911 England Census
  2. "Deaths". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. p. 1.
  3. "English athletes". Commonwealth Games Federation.
  4. "Following in the Family Tradition". Surrey Advertiser. 4 June 1966. p. 20. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  5. "Dovorian in Empire Winning Crew". Dover Express. 29 August 1930. Retrieved 20 August 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Commonwealth Games Medallists". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  7. "UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 2 Sep 1930 Southampton". Ancestry.co.uk.
  8. "Married at Milford – Close-Brooks—Beesly". New Milton Advertiser. 8 September 1934. p. 5. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  9. "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 24 MAY, 1940" (PDF). The Gazette. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  10. "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 JUNE, 1944" (PDF). The Gazette. Retrieved 30 August 2025.