Dame Diana Margaret Ellis (11 April 1938 – 18 May 2017), known as Di Ellis, was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

rower Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are ...

and the former Honorary President of

British Rowing British Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA), is the national governing body for the sport of rowing (both indoor and on-water rowing). It is responsible for the training and selection of individual rowers and crews represent ...

Rowing career

Ellis coxed the women's eight at the

1966 European Rowing Championships The 1966 European Rowing Championships were rowing championships held on the Bosbaan in the Dutch city of Amsterdam; the venue had previously been used for the 1954 European Rowing Championships, 1954 and 1964 European Rowing Championships. This ...

for Great Britain. She coxed the England women's four to gold in the 1972 home countries match, and won the women's eight head of the river race seven times, four as a

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and three as a rower, from 1966-1973. She won the coxed fours with Janis Long, Ann Shackell, Margaret Goodsman and Beryl Martin, rowing for the St George's Ladies crew, at the inaugural 1972 National Rowing Championships, on the new 2,000-metre course at Holme Pierrepont.

Family

She was the middle child of three daughters born to Robert Hall, a proof reader, and his wife, Mabel (née Steadman), a nurse. She attended

Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...

girls' school (West London), and the Guildford College of Technology (in Surrey).

Honours

Ellis was appointed

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

for services to rowing in 2004, and elevated to Dame Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(DBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2013. She was made a vice-president of the British Olympic Association in 2013 and honorary president of British Rowing in 2014."Alliance leading light earns Damehood"
sportandrecreation.org.uk, 14 June 2013; accessed 19 June 2017.

Death

Ellis died following a brief illness at the age of 79. She was survived by her husband (since 1966) and daughter.

Affiliations

* British Olympic Association * Sport & Recreation Alliance * British Confederation of Sport * Skills Active * Sporting Equals and Sports Resolutions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Di 1938 births 2017 deaths British female rowers Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Sportspeople awarded damehoods Stewards of Henley Royal Regatta Place of birth missing Place of death missing