Ralph Shove

Ralph Shove was the son of William Samuel Shove and Bertha Millen.


Ralph Samuel Shove (31 May 1889 – 2 February 1966) was a British County Court judge and a rower who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Shove was born at Faversham, Kent, the son of Herbert Samuel Shove and his wife Bertha Millen.He was educated at Uppingham School, where he was a first team rugby player, and at Trinity College, Cambridge. At Cambridge he rowed in the Cambridge boat in the Boat races in 1912 and 1913.

Shove was called to the bar at Inner Temple. During World War I he served in the Royal Field Artillery, and went to France in November 1914. He was a captain, and was once wounded.

Shove was captain of the Leander eight which won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics, coming within half a length of winning.
Shove was appointed as a County Court Judge and J. P. in 1945, and became Vice-Chairman of the Lindsey Quarter Sessions. He was chairman of the Kesteven and Holland Quarter Sessions from 1946.

Shove lived at The Old Hall, Washingboro, Lincoln, and died at North Kesteven, Lincolnshire at the age of 76. His elder brother was the Cambridge economist Gerald Shove.

Shove married Evelyn Forster at South Kensington on 31 July 1928



Major Ralph Samuel Shove, RFA
Born in May 1889, the son of Mr and Mrs. Herbert Samuel Shove of Ospringe, Faversham, Kent
Educated at Uppingham School from September 1903 to July 1908 (school praetor; played on XV in 1906 and 1907) and at Trinity College, Cambridge (2nd Class Tripos, 1911, University VIII in 1912 and 1913)
Before the war he was a barrister at the Inner Temple
Served as a Captain, RFA; once wounded
Went to France as an RFA Reinforcement on 7 November 1914
Captain, No. 3 RFA Officers' Cadet School at Weedon
Class B Mention in War Office List dated 13 August 1918
In 1928 he married Evelyn, daughter of Rev. Charles Forster of Holne Chase, Ashburton, Devon
Captain of the Leander Crew at the Olympic Games in Belgium
Appointed as a County Court Judge in 1945 and J. P. the same year
Chairman of the Kesteven and Holland Quarter Sessions from 1946
Vice-Chairman of the Lindsey Quarter Sessions from 1945
His address in 1947 was: The Old Hall, Washingboro, Lincoln
Died in February 1966

Sources: Uppingham School Roll, 1824-1931; Uppingham School Roll, 1853-1947; Uppingham School Roll, 1900-1972; Inner Templars in the Great War; The War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1918; Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes.


The service papers for a 'Capt. R. Shove' are available at the National Archives under WO339/26442 which most likely are his service papers.



Regards, Dick Flory