Humphrey Boardman

Humphrey Boardman’s father was a former High Sheriff of Norfolk while his mother Florence was the daughter of Jeremiah Colman, a descendant of the founder of the famous Colman’s mustard company. Boardman, like his father and grandfather before him, was a chartered architect. He had two brothers, a twin Stuart, and older brother Christopher who was an Olympic sailing gold medallist.

Boardman was educated at Malvern College and then Trinity College, Cambridge. At University he was selected for Boat Race trials in 1926 and 1927, but never won a Blue. Boardman reached the final of the Stewards’ Challenge Cup at Henley with the London Rowing Club four in 1928, but were, ironically, beaten by First Trinity. He also competed in the double sculls at the Amsterdam Olympics that year with Denis Guye.

Boardman enjoyed his finest year in 1930. Firstly he enjoyed a double at Henley with the London RC, beating Leander in the final of both the Stewards’ Cup and Grand Challenge Cup. He followed that a few months later with gold medals in the coxless fours and eights at the inaugural British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada. Boardman later turned to coaching, and worked with the London RC as well as helping the Cambridge eights with preparations for the 1939 Boat Race.