The Olympic rower – who also famously rowed across the Atlantic with TV presenter Ben Fogle in aid of Children in Need – attended the college’s Further Education prizegiving ceremony to hand out diplomas and awards.

Mores than 600 students accepted their certificates, and college principal Jeanette Dawson was delighted that James Cracknell was able to take part.

“This event is always a highlight in the college calendar, as is the graduation ceremony that precedes it.

“It marks the culmination of much hard work, dedication and commitment for each and every learner and to have someone like James Cracknell celebrating with us made it very special.”

James spoke to the students about his experiences as an Olympic rower, and his exploits since hanging up his oars.

He also offered the learners some words of advice, telling them: “It’s inspiring to see so many young people achieve.

“If anything has helped me achieve it’s always grasping the opportunity, even though sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

“Rowing across the Atlantic showed me that the mind and body are capable of great things and my career has taught me that you are always more capable than you think you are, so you should always go for it.”

Since retiring from international rowing after the 2004 Athens Olympics, James has had a successful media and speaking career, as well as completing the 3,000-mile Atlantic rowing challenge.

More recently he and Ben Fogel took part in a race to the South Pole in the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race.

The 450-mile voyage, which can be seen on BBC2, saw James, Ben and Ed Coats, James’ former team-mate, in the first organised Antarctic race since Scott and Amundsen’s fateful competition nearly 100 years ago.

During his visit to the college, Mrs Dawson showed James the college’s Olympic-standard Equine indoor arena and spoke to him about the college’s status as an approved equestrian training camp for the 2012 Games.

“James was very impressed with the facilities,” she said.

“He felt that the college would be an excellent base for any Olympic team.”