Cherry was born in
Paddington and educated at
Westminster School and
Brasenose College,
Oxford, having matriculated in 1933 as the Heath Harrison Minor Exhibitioner.
Oxford He rowed in the Brasenose College 1st VIII from 1934 to 1938, and first rowed for the university in 1936 as a member of the losing
Oxford boat in the
Boat Race. Later in the year, he was a member of the crew of the
eight which came fourth representing
Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics in
Berlin. In 1937 he became president of OUBC, and was in the crew that broke Cambridge's thirteen-year winning streak. He was OUBC president again in 1938, recording another win over Cambridge.
Henley Royal Regatta Outside the Boat Race and the Olympics, Cherry also competed at
Henley Royal Regatta. In 1936, he rowed in the
Leander Club VIII, which came second in the
Grand Challenge Cup, as well as the Brasenose College IV. In 1937 he rowed in the Leander Club IV, which won the
Stewards' Challenge Cup, and in 1938 he rowed again in the Brasenose College IV. Since Cherry has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the
Chatham Naval Memorial. == Personal life ==