Di Ellis


Dame Diana Margaret Ellis , known as Di Ellis, was a British rower and the former Honorary President of British Rowing.

Rowing career

Competitively, she rowed for Great Britain in 1966, as part of the women's eight at the European championships. She coxed the England women's four to gold in the 1972 home countries match, and won the women's eights head of the river race seven times, four as a cox 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, a nurse. She attended Ealing girls' school, and the Guildford College of Technology.

Honours

Ellis was appointed CBE for services to rowing in 2004, and elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire 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.

Death

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

Affiliations