The following speech by Green College student Declan Hill illustrates the admiration the students of his College held for him.

“There are moments in a race when you have Trinity or whoever it is chasing just behind you. And Brasenose or whatever boat it is in front. Your muscles are aching. Your lungs are panting. Your heart is close to stopping. And that all important question comes to you - “What am I doing here?” Why do I keep going? Why don’t I just stop and let those guys in the next boat catch me and I can just slow down and stop?
It is at those moments that true character is revealed. When the snow is whipping into your face. And your body is sagging with tiredness and your New Zealand coxie is urging you on that you have to find real inspiration to go on.
For some people, in part it is what they possess inside that drives them on. But for others, in fact for all rowers, it is in part a desire to do well for Green College. A desire to show that the rest of the University community – what we stand for. What our ideals as a College are.
... at the centre of our values is a deep valuing of humanity, a caring for both the body and the soul and a desire to improve the lot of our fellows either through medicine or research or education. No one person so exemplifies our values as our founder and the first Warden of this College – Sir Richard Doll.
That is why it is an honour to name the boat after Sir Richard Doll knowing that his inner virtues and strengths will be an inspiration for future generations of Green College rowers as they face their own breaking point out on the river.”