Edward M Sturges (1920–1997) was an English rower, a behind-the-lines marines officer in World War II and a fitness enthusiast who ran an elite gymnasium in London. Sturges was born at Kensington. He was educated at Radley College where he was one of the winning crew in the Ladies' Challenge Plate at

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the thre ...

in 1938. During World War II he served as a major in the

Royal Marines The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...

in Burma behind enemy lines. In spite of his size, he was able to creep as stealthily as a cat and ran an effective guerilla campaign. After the second world war, Sturges joined London Rowing Club and won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta partnering

John Pinches John Harvey Pinches (9 April 1916 – 2 July 2007) was an English rower, Royal Engineers officer, medallist and author. Pinches was born at Chelsea, London, the son of John Robert Pinches and Irene Inchbold. His father was a medallist in the fam ...

. They were runners up in the same event in 1950 and also in 1950, Sturges won the Wingfield Sculls. Sturges ran a gymnasium in Knightsbridge for forty years and trained generations of young people, including the four children of

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

. He retired to

Benson, Oxfordshire Benson is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire, England. The 2011 Census gave the parish population as 4,754. It lies about a mile and a half (2.4 km) north of Wallingford at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, where a chalk stream, Ewe ...

in 1992. He trained every day and had sculled on the evening he died at the age 76.Obituary British Rowing Almanack 1998

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sturges, Edward 1920 births 1997 deaths People educated at Radley College British male rowers Royal Marines Commando officers Royal Marines personnel of World War II Military personnel from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea People from Kensington