Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree--Olympic Champion Christopher Alan Boardman

  

Christopher Alan Boardman (11 June 1903 Norwich – 29 September 1987) was the second of 5 children born to Edward Thomas Boardman (1861-1950) and Florence Colman (1869-1960).  As an adult he was a British sailor and yachtsman who won gold in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

In 1934, Boardman was a member of the crew of the British J-class yacht Endeavour which competed in the America's Cup off the coast of Rhode Island. The Endeavour won the first two races but lost the remaining three.

Christopher Boardman won a gold medal at the 1936 Games in Berlin. He was a crew member and helmsman of the British boat Lalage which won the gold medal in the 6-metre class. Christopher refused to attend the medal ceremony because Adolf Hitler was presenting the medals. As gold medallist he was also presented with an oak sapling which he planted at his home in How Hill, Ludham. It survived being hit by shrapnel from a German bomb before dying a few years ago - and being transformed into a carving of the Olympic rings and Christopher’s winning boat, which now stands at How Hill environmental study centre.

In World War II, he saw service as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officer. In 1940/41 he served on the Q-ship HMS Cyprus (X44) (formerly Cape Sable) and later commanded the corvette HMS Snowdrop.

Carving made from the "Hitler Oak" as they became known in England. 
Currently on view at How Hill Environmental Study Centre.


Genealogy of Christopher Alan Boardman:


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