Water’s Gleaming Gold

The Story of Hugh ‘Jumbo’ Edwards

BY GAVIN JAMIESON

“We modern oarsmen and women are sometimes asked to row as if our lives depended on it. lt is only Jumbo Edwards from the British Olympic rowing family who had to do that literally.”
— Sir Matthew Pinsent, Olympian, Oxford Blue

One wintry afternoon in 1943, a solitary airman lies injured and exhausted in an inflatable life raft. The debris of his Liberator bomber has disappeared beneath the waves of the Atlantic leaving behind a slick of black oil. He is the only survivor of a crew of eight. His name is Wing Commander Hugh ‘Jumbo’ Edwards, one of the greatest oarsmen of all time.

Eleven years earlier, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Hugh 'Jumbo' Edwards thrilled thousands with an astonishing two gold medals won in a single hour. On this winter afternoon, in the loneliness of the North Atlantic and with darkness descending, he is now rowing to save his life.

Water’s Gleaming Gold is the incredible true story of the most extraordinary oarsman, Olympian, pilot, war hero and legendary British rowing coach. This is the tale of a man of courage and conviction – on a pursuit to redemption from public humiliation.

REVIEWS

“One hell of a story” DANIEL JAMES BROWN, author of ‘The Boys in the Boat’

“A remarkable life elegantly, and lovingly, told” MATT DICKINSON, The Times

“A true Olympic and rowing hero, and a story that is both fascinating and truly dramatic” DANIEL SNOW, Historian, Oxford Blue and Broadcaster ….

  • “A mesmerising tale of a gilded life set against troubled times. A study of talent and character tested to their limits" PAUL HAYWARD, Journalist, Chief Sports Writer

    “A fantastic read that will appeal to rowing buffs, biography lovers, and history geeks but also pleasantly surprise a wider-audience” TOM RANSLEY, Olympian, Editor: Row360 Magazine

    “A well-written, rip-roaring rollercoaster read that anyone would enjoy” BRITISH ROWING

    “An exceptional story and a great read, Jamieson’s prose is beautiful and makes the history jump off the page” HENLEY STANDARD

    “We modern oarsmen and women are sometimes asked to row as if our lives depended on it. Only Jumbo Edwards from the British Olympic rowing family had to do that literally” SIR MATTHEW PINSENT, Olympian, Oxford Blue

    “Heartily recommended, not just to those who enjoy rowing history, or good biography, but also to those who feast upon good writing” THOMAS E. WEIL, Hear The Boat Sing

  • Click here to listen to the HistoryHit podcast with Dan Snow and the author about ‘Britain's Forgotten Olympic Heroes’

    Visit ‘Water’s Gleaming Gold’ YouTube playlist for fantastic old news reels linked to the book.

    Listen here to the Broken Oars podcast, hosted by Dr. Lewin Hynes and Dr. Aaron Jackson.

  • Publication date: 19.06.23

    Format: Hardback

    Page extent: 256 pages (estimated); over 60 illustrations

    ISBN: 978-1999322656

    Price: £20.00

ROW360 - ISSUE 049

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