Posted Monday March 25th 2002 Former junior international oarsman Guy Lovett died peacefully in the Royal Marsden Hospital on 9th March at the age of just 26. Although he had been fighting lung cancer for some months, Guy had seemed to be responding very well to an intensive course of chemotherapy (he managed to reduce the size of the tumour in his lungs by 90%) and was thought to have conquered it by family and friends. However, despite showing tremendous courage and exceptionally tenacious endurance, he could not contend with the aggressive spread of this dreadful disease to other parts of his body.
Having learnt to row at Shrewsbury School, Guy was a pivotal figure in the R. S. S. B. C. First VIII for two successive seasons, captaining the Boat Club there in 1992-3. As part of the Great Britain Team, he won a bronze medal in the coxed pair at the 1992 Junior World Championships in Montreal, Canada, and came fourth in the coxed fours event in Årungen, Norway in 1993. The following year, he was selected for a Leander quad that finished sixth in the U23 Championships in Paris, came second in Hazelwinkel and reached the semi-finals of Henley Royal Regatta. Subsequently, Guy raced at both Molesey Boat Club and Vesta Rowing Club.
When he turned his attention towards judo, Guy demonstrated the same sort of enthusiasm, determination and fitness that had been so apparent in boats. Along with several other oarsmen, he joined the Budokwai Judo Club where he worked his way from white to black belt in less than a year. In order to accomplish this feat, he had to win five successive fights by ippon in one particularly spectacular day.
Above all, though, Guy was a great friend to a huge number of people. I feel sure that he will be remembered as much for keeping in touch with people and for sharing good times with them as for any of his sporting triumphs. The vast congregation at his funeral and thanksgiving service showed his mother (Valerie), his father (John) and his sister (Clare) just how well loved he was and how much he will be missed.
Written by Steve Fox.