# Eric Halladay

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British historian, academic and rowing coach

Eric Halladay Principal of St Chad's College, Durham In office 1991–1994 Preceded by David Jasper Succeeded by Duane Arnold Master of Grey College, Durham In office 1980–1989 Preceded by Sidney Holgate Succeeded by Victor Watts Personal details Born (1930-07-09)9 July 1930 Died 19 July 1997(1997-07-19) (aged 67) Education Durham School Alma mater St John's College, Cambridge Ripon Hall, Oxford

**Eric Halladay** (9 July 1930 – 19 July 1997) was a British historian, academic, and rowing coach. He was [Master](/source/Master_(college)) of [Grey College, Durham](/source/Grey_College%2C_Durham) from 1980 to 1989, [Rector](/source/Rector_(academia)) of [St Aidan's College, Durham](/source/St_Aidan's_College%2C_Durham) from 1990 to 1991, and [Principal](/source/Principal_(academia)) of [St Chad's College, Durham](/source/St_Chad's_College%2C_Durham) from 1991 to 1994. He was a rowing coach at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, before becoming coach of the [Durham University Boat Club](/source/Durham_University_Boat_Club) when he was an academic at the university.

## Early life and education

Halladay was born on 9 July 1930 in [Huddersfield](/source/Huddersfield), Yorkshire, England.[1] He father, A. R. Halladay, was later an Anglican [vicar](/source/Vicar).[2] He was educated at [Durham School](/source/Durham_School), where he learnt to row on the [River Wear](/source/River_Wear).[3] He studied history at [St John's College, Cambridge](/source/St_John's_College%2C_Cambridge) and was a member of the [Lady Margaret Boat Club](/source/Lady_Margaret_Boat_Club).[3] Following his graduation from the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge), he studied theology at [Ripon Hall](/source/Ripon_Hall), Oxford, for one year.[1]

## Career

### Military service

On 14 February 1949, as part of [National Service](/source/Conscription_in_the_United_Kingdom), he was granted an [emergency commission](/source/Commissioned_officer) in the [Royal Regiment of Artillery](/source/Royal_Regiment_of_Artillery) with the rank of [second lieutenant](/source/Second_lieutenant).[4] He served with the 5th [Royal Horse Artillery](/source/Royal_Horse_Artillery).[3] On 21 December 1951, he was transferred to the Supplementary Reserve officers and granted seniority in the rank of second lieutenant from 4 August 1950.[5] On 7 June 1952, he was promoted to [acting](/source/Acting_(rank)) [lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant_(British_Army_and_Royal_Marines)).[6] He was promoted to lieutenant on 9 July 1953 with seniority from 7 July 1952.[7] On 22 July 1958, he was transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers.[8]

In later life, he was active in ex-servicemen organisations. He served secretary of Durham City Division of [SSAFA](/source/SSAFA) from 1977 to 1989. He was also a member of the North of England's [Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association](/source/Territorial_Auxiliary_and_Volunteer_Reserve_Association) from 1980 to 1996.[9]

### Academic career

Halladay began his academic career not as a lecturer but a teacher. He taught history at [Exeter School](/source/Exeter_School), a [private school](/source/Private_schools_in_the_United_Kingdom) in [Exeter](/source/Exeter), Devon,[1] from 1954 to 1960.[9] In 1960, he was appointed a [senior lecturer](/source/Senior_lecturer) at the [Royal Military Academy Sandhurst](/source/Royal_Military_Academy_Sandhurst).[3] While his main duties at the academy were to teach the [officer cadets](/source/Officer_cadets) [military history](/source/Military_history), he also coached the Boat Club.[1]

He joined [Durham University](/source/Durham_University) in 1964 as a lecturer in history.[1] He specialised in military and African history.[10] The same year, he was appointed senior tutor of [Grey College, Durham](/source/Grey_College%2C_Durham).[3] He co-wrote *The Building of Modern Africa* with D. D. Rooney which was published in 1966.[1] He was appointed Vice-Master of Grey in 1967, therefore deputising to the then Master [Sidney Holgate](/source/Sidney_Holgate).[3] In 1972, his book *The Emergent Continent: Africa in the Nineteenth Century* was published.[1] In 1980, he became the second [Master](/source/Master_(college)) of Grey College.[3] As the head of college, he became a part-time lecturer.[1] He then moved colleges, and served as [Principal](/source/Principal_(academia)) of [St Chad's College, Durham](/source/St_Chad's_College%2C_Durham) from 1991 to 1994.[3]

### Rowing coach

In 1963, Halladay coached a team from the [Royal Military Academy Sandhurst](/source/Royal_Military_Academy_Sandhurst) to win the [Ladies' Challenge Plate](/source/Ladies'_Challenge_Plate). This was the first [Henley Royal Regatta](/source/Henley_Royal_Regatta) he would win.[1]

Halladay coached the [Durham University Boat Club](/source/Durham_University_Boat_Club) (DUBC) from 1964.[11] DUBC won the Ortner Shield at the [Head of the River Race](/source/Head_of_the_River_Race) 18 times in 1966 to 1976 and 1978 to 1984.[12]

He was chair of the [Durham Regatta](/source/Durham_Regatta) between 1982 and 1988.[1] In 1993, he was elected a steward of the Henley Royal Regatta.[1]

## Personal life

In 1956, Halladay married Margaret ([née](/source/Birth_name#Maiden_and_married_names) Baister). Together they had three children; two daughters and a son.[9]

He died on 19 July 1997, aged 67.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-obit_-_Independent_1-11) Matheson, Hugh (27 August 1997). ["Obituary: Eric Halladay"](https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-eric-halladay-5553136.html). *The Independent*. p. 11. Retrieved 14 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Crockford's Clerical Directory*](https://archive.org/details/crockfordscleric0000unse_p4b0/page/550) (71 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1947. p. 550.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Times_3-7) "Eric Halladay; Obituary". *The Times*. 20 August 1997. p. 17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_25_March_1949_4-0)** ["No. 38571"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38571/supplement/1533). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 25 March 1949. pp. 1533–1534.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_11_March_1952_5-0)** ["No. 39490"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39490/supplement/1458). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 11 March 1952. pp. 1458–1459.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_8_July_1952_6-0)** ["No. 39593"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39593/supplement/3742). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 8 July 1952. p. 3742.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_7_July_1953_7-0)** ["No. 39907"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39907/supplement/3789). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 7 July 1953. p. 3789.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_5_September_1958_8-0)** ["No. 41491"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41491/supplement/5522). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 5 September 1958. p. 5522.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WWW_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WWW_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WWW_9-2) ["Article Halladay, Eric, (9 July 1930–19 July 1997), Principal, St Chad's College, University of Durham, 1991–94"](http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U178919). *[Who Was Who](/source/Who_Was_Who)*. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-obit_-_The_Guardian_10-0)** Dodd, Christopher (11 August 1997). "Obituary: Rivers' slow presence: Eric Halladay". *The Guardian*. p. 13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Eric Halladay remembered"](https://durham-regatta.org.uk/news/eric-halladay-remembered/). *Durham Regatta*. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Results Archive"](http://www.horr.co.uk/wordpress/results-archive/). [Head of the River Race](/source/Head_of_the_River_Race). Retrieved 8 May 2026.

Academic offices Preceded by Sidney Holgate Master of Grey College, Durham 1980–1988 Succeeded by Victor Watts Preceded by David Jasper Principal of St Chad's College, Durham 1991–1994 Succeeded by Duane Arnold

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States Netherlands Israel Other Yale LUX

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