Bonnie Brave Boat Rowers

About the Book

Three strands of culture thrived in the North East of England through the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries – rowing as professional sport, innovative design of racing boats, and music hall songs to honour the oarsmen’s prowess. . Bonnie Brave Boat Rowers sets out to recapture the lost world of the prestigious Christmas Handicap through the bridges of Newcastle; to relive the immense following for the north-south rivalry in pursuit of world titles; to celebrate innovators whose revolutionary designs spread wherever boats were raced; and to echo the minstrels who immortalised sporting champions in song in the music halls of Newcastle, Gateshead and the industrial North East.

About the Author

Christopher Dodd is a freelance journalist, editor, author and rowing historian. After 30 years on the Guardian, he co-founded the River & Rowing Museum at Henley-on-Thames, where he is a historian and curator. His books include histories of Henley Regatta, the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, London Rowing Club and World Rowing. His most recent, Pieces of Eight, tells the story of coach Bob Janousek and the restoration of British rowing to the Olympic medal podium in 1976 after a long absence. He contributes to newspapers, magazines and blogs and is the founding editor of Britain’s Regatta magazine and the International Rowing Federation’s World Rowing. He is a board member of Friends of Rowing History.