The Cantabs Committee has been saddened to hear of the recent death of Ken Drake.
Ken was a pupil at the County School for Boys between 1942 and 1951, and rowed in the newly founded Old Cantabrigian Club's School VIII in 1950. He was Secretary of the club for its first two years, Vice President in 1958, Club President from 1999 to 2005, an Honorary Life Member and a regular pusher-out in bumps races for many years.
His book, "History of the Cantabrigian Rowing Club, 1950-2010", was a labour of love, and provides a fascinating account of aspects of Cambridge rowing and the first 60 years of Cantabs.
Whilst checking facts about Ken's life beyond rowing - after National Service he studied at Fitzwilliam College, married Vivan with whom he raised two children, became a teacher and headmaster - we stumbled across an autobiographical account of his rowing activities, written as part of an archive of information about Fitzwilliam College rowing, but also encompassing some of his activities with Cantabs. In classic Ken style, it is not short but is full of interesting anecdotes, so we have shared a copy here for all to access.
A service of thanksgiving for Ken's life will be held at 11:15am on 25th February, at the Wesley Methodist Church, Cambridge.