Michael Lapage
Encyclopedia
Michael Clement Lapage (born 15 November 1923) is a former missionary and English
rower
who competed for Great Britain
in the 1948 Summer Olympics
.
Lapage was born at Shaftesbury
, Dorset
, the son of Reginald H Lapage, vicar of Shaftesbury, and his wife Dora Ehlvers. He was educated at Monkton Combe School
where he was a contemporary of fellow Olympic rower Alfred Mellows
. During World War II
Lapage saw service as a Fleet Air Arm
pilot in the Pacific.
After the war Lapage was at Cambridge University and was a member of the winning Cambridge
boat in the 1948 Boat Race. In 1948, he was a crew member of the British boat which won the silver medal rowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in the men's eight
s.
At the 1950 British Empire Games
he won the bronze medal as part of the English boat in the eights competition.
Lapage became a Christian missionary and was ordained in Kenya in 1961.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
.
Lapage was born at Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is a town in Dorset, England, situated on the A30 road near the Wiltshire border 20 miles west of Salisbury. The town is built 718 feet above sea level on the side of a chalk and greensand hill, which is part of Cranborne Chase, the only significant hilltop settlement in Dorset...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, the son of Reginald H Lapage, vicar of Shaftesbury, and his wife Dora Ehlvers. He was educated at Monkton Combe School
Monkton Combe School
Monkton Combe School is an independent boarding and day school of the British public school tradition, near Bath, England. The Senior School is located in the village of Monkton Combe, while the Prep School, Pre-Prep and Nursery are in Combe Down on the southern outskirts of Bath...
where he was a contemporary of fellow Olympic rower Alfred Mellows
Alfred Mellows
Alfred Paul Mellows DFC was a British rower who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.Mellows was born in Croydon, the son of Alfred John Mellows and his wife Edith Dean. He was educated at Monkton Combe School and at Cambridge University, and was a contemporary of fellow Olympic rower Michael...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Lapage saw service as a Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
pilot in the Pacific.
After the war Lapage was at Cambridge University and was a member of the winning Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
boat in the 1948 Boat Race. In 1948, he was a crew member of the British boat which won the silver medal rowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics featured 7 events, for men only. Competitions were held over the Henley Royal Regatta course from August 5, 1948 to August 9, 1948.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...
in the men's eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
s.
At the 1950 British Empire Games
1950 British Empire Games
The 1950 British Empire Games was the fourth edition of what is now called the Commonwealth Games. It was held in Auckland, New Zealand between the 4th and 11th of February 1950, after a 12-year gap from the 3rd edition of the games...
he won the bronze medal as part of the English boat in the eights competition.
Lapage became a Christian missionary and was ordained in Kenya in 1961.
See also
- List of Cambridge University Boat Race crews
- Rowing at the 1948 Summer OlympicsRowing at the 1948 Summer OlympicsRowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics featured 7 events, for men only. Competitions were held over the Henley Royal Regatta course from August 5, 1948 to August 9, 1948.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...