Cecil Davidge

Cecil Vere Davidge of Little Houghton House DL (14 February 1901 – 27 January 1981) was a British lawyer and academic, who served as a Fellow and bursar of Keble College, Oxford, and as High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.

Life Davidge was born on 14 February 1901. Davidge was educated at Abingdon School from September 1913 until 1919 and rowed in the first four for the Abingdon School Boat Club before studying at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he obtained a second-class degree in Jurisprudence in 1923; he obtained the Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1925.

He was called to the bar (becoming a barrister) as a member of Inner Temple in 1927. During his time as bursar, he purchased a number of farms for the college for investment purposes, and considerably strengthened the college's financial position.

Davidge was a keen rower. Whilst at Pembroke, he rowed for the college boat club, and helped improve its position in Eights Week, the main inter-college races, raising them to high in the 1st Division of the races. He was later to become Treasurer of Oxford University Boat Club. He helped to attract rowers to Keble, making it a strong rowing college. He acquired a love of the country, particular horses and fox hunting, from his first wife, and became a keen follower of the Pytchley Hunt, in Northamptonshire. Davidge died in a hunting accident on 27 January 1981. Christopher Guy Vere Davidge (5 November 1929 - 22 November 2014), represented Britain on three occasions in rowing events at the Summer Olympics (in 1952, 1956 and 1960). Anne Catherine Davidge (Born 19 September 1932), married William Ernest Broadbent Usher, had issue.

Ursula Catherine Smyth died on 26 October 1948 and Davidge remarried Philippa Felicia Goldwyre Lester, daughter of Peter Frank Lester (son of Rev. John Moore Lester) and Gertrude Mary Felicia Hewett (niece of Sir John Hewett and Rear Admiral George Hayley Hewett), in 1961 and had issue: Mary Philippa Rose Davidge (Born 25 August 1964), married Edward Peter Hilary James, son of Philip Seaforth James, had issue. Peter Vere Davidge (7 October 1966), married Alison Fergusson, no issue.