Dick Offer

Who was Dick Offer?

Richard Frederick Offer was an English rower who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta and a silver medal at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Offer was born at Hampton Wick, the son of Henry John Offer and his wife Vera Jennie Burgoine. His maternal grandfather, Alfred Burgoine, was a boat designer who built one of Queen Victoria’s Royal Barges and a motor launch that held the world water speed record. He was educated at Tiffin School where he began rowing. He joined Kingston Rowing Club in 1929, where his brothers Tom and Jack Offer were already members.

Offer excelled at sculling, in particular partnering his brother Jack in the double sculls. They also took part in skiffing, being members of The Skiff Club. They won the Gentlemen's Double Sculls at the Skiff Championships Regatta in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1935. In 1936 the pair won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta. Two years later they were selected to compete in the 1938 British Empire Games. Offer worked in an insurance company in the City of London and had to take unpaid leave to be able to compete. In spite of the difficulties in maintaining training during the six-week sea voyage to Australia they won the silver medal in the double sculls event.