Background
Tom Chessell was born in Ashfield, New South Wales, and attended Newington College (1929–1931) where he started rowing.
Tom Chessell was born in Ashfield, New South Wales, and attended Newington College (1929–1931) where he started rowing.
Forced by the Great Depression to leave school, Chessell worked for his family"s building company and studied building at Sydney Technical College.
As a cox he represented Newington at the Head of the River in the 2nd IV in 1930 and the 1st VIII in the following year. He worked in the building industry all his life and was Chief Building Inspector for Ku-ring-gai Council on his retirement in 1975. At the outbreak of World World War II, Chessell joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a carpenter/rigger serving in the Middle East for two and a half years and was mentioned in despatches.
After leaving school, Chessell joined Sydney Rowing Club.
He was cremated and his ashes were spread on the Parramatta River by the 1952 Olympic VIII with Ian Chessell as cox.