10 March 2022

By Göran R Buckhorn

Legendary oarsman Stuart ”Sam” Mackenzie passed away on 20 October 2020 at age 83.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Mackenzie’s life on Monday 4 April at 1-2 p.m. (13:00-14:00 BST) at St Mary’s Church, Hart Street in Henley-on-Thames, UK.

Sam Mackenzie, born on 4 April 1936 in New South Wales, Australia, was an Olympic silver medallist in the single sculls (1956), twice European champion (1957 and 1958) and took a gold medal in the single sculls and a silver medal in the double sculls with Mervyn Wood at the Commonwealth Games (both in 1958) and a silver in the single sculls at the Worlds (1962). Mackenzie won several cups at Henley Royal Regatta. He won the Diamond Challenge Sculls on six successive occasions (1957-1962; rowing for Leander in 1960 and 1962). Mackenzie also won the Double Sculls Challenge Cup with Chris Davidge (1959; Leander). They also won the Silver Goblets (1963; Leander).

For the last 25 years of his life, Mackenzie lived in Somerset, England. Read more about what a colourful character Sam Mackenzie was in Tim Koch’s article about him, here.

The church service to celebrate Mackenzie’s life will be followed by a buffet lunch at Leander Club.

To attend both at the church and at Leander, please register here.