Stanley Muttlebury

Stanley Duff Muttlebury (29 April 1866 – 3 May 1933) was an English rower notable in the annals of rowing and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

He practised in Toronto, Canada West (now Ontario), but by 1851 returned to his birthplace Walcot, Bath, Somerset, and by 1856 migrated to the antipodes where he was a solicitor in St Kilda's, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Financially able to retire, he lived the life of an annuitant gentleman, dying in Geneva, Switzerland in 1886, when Muttlebury was a freshman Cambridge undergraduate.

Cambridge went out to an early lead of half a length at Craven Cottage, but Oxford slowly clawed this back by the Soap-works.

However, Cambridge made a sustained effort from Barnes Bridge, and won by two-thirds of a length in a time of 22 minutes 30 seconds.

Cambridge won the toss and chose the Surrey station, and with a good turn of speed were ahead by a length and a half at the Crab Tree.

After shooting the bridge, rough water was encountered, and Cambridge took the advantage of the sheltered station to take a lead of three lengths.

Reduced to rowing with only seven men, Oxford were unable to complete their challenge, and Cambridge won a fortunate race by two and a half lengths in 20 minutes 52 seconds.

Parker returning to row, George Drinkwater noted that they "did not develop into a good crew and were never looked on as possible winners", while Cambridge "had a surplus of excellent material".

The official centenary history of the Boat Race noted: It is doubtful if it will ever be attempted again, for it had a very bad effect on Cambridge rowing.

Rowe had more experience, and after a tough battle, triumphed by one length to hand Muttlebury his first and only Boat race defeat.

At Henley he won the Silver Goblets in 1886, 1887, and 1889, as well as being a member of the winning Thames Rowing Club crew for the Stewards' Challenge Cup in 1894.

Owing to the want of a covered swimming bath at Cambridge, Water Polo can only be played at the sheds, and at the close of a bad season like the present men are necessarily very much out of practice.

Parkinson of Bays Hill Court, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and granddaughter of Mrs Nicholson, of Lancaster Gate.

Gwen Muttlebury (nee Parsons) worked in the Admiralty Operations Room Whitehall during the Second World War.

Gwen and Ralph meanwhile, had a son, Peter George Stanley Muttlebury, born on 3 June 1929 (died at home in Yorkshire, 24 August 1975).

Stanley Muttlebury, who was first called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1886, ultimately chose a career as a stockbroker rather than pursuing that of a barrister after coming down from Cambridge.

Twenty-five years ago a Stock Exchange crew met the London Rowing Club in a match on Thames; it was there that we captured the Mighty Muttle for the business.

In his obituary, printed in The Times on Friday, 5 May 1933, Stanley was described as "undoubtedly the greatest oar ever produced by Cambridge".

I consider that long-slide rowing sprang suddenly to perfection in Muttlebury, that on him this new (or partially new) art was built... With regard to the man himself ...[he] had the most charming "good manners."

His wide circle of friends included Rudolph Lehmann (Founder of The Granta Magazine (Cambridge University) comic writer, rower, barrister, and Liberal MP) and Douglas Jardine, Captain of the England Cricket team.

Lehmann paid a warm tribute to his good friend in his book, In Cambridge Courts, describing him as The Mighty Muttle, and that brawny king of men.