In a sense it was the professional rowers like the Phelpses (who virtually lived in their sculling boats), that set the standard in terms of commitment and dedication that provided the basis and inspiration of today’s international successes. From the Foreword by Sir Steve Redgrave Maurice Phelps was always a reluctant oarsman. Sitting at the feet of great professionals as a boy – Dan Cordury, Ernie Barry, Ted Phelps and others – in their endless talks with his father, he grew to reject the sport. Despite high publicity by Hylton Cleaver and others as the first Phelps for Oxford, he refused to row seriously.
He now lives close to the Thames, owns an Edwin Phelps sculling boat and has worked with his cousins to write this book to make some sort of amends.
Maurice Phelps
Now he deeply regrets that decision and the disappointment he caused his father.
THE PHElPS DyNASTy
This is a story of a family that has been passionate about the River Thames for over 350 years and probably a lot longer. It has played on it and competed on it, but primarily it has worked on it.
THE PHElPS DyNASTy
The Phelps Dynasty is the story of a riverside family – its pedigree, its rowing tradition and its close association with the Thames. For generations it has lived and played on the river’s shores and worked on its tides. But most importantly it has competed. Its rowing achievements are extraordinary. As professionals, ten of the family won the Doggett’s Coat and Badge; members won the World’s Professional Sculling championship and held the English and European Professional Sculling titles; when permitted they coached Diamond and Wingfield sculling winners and Olympic performers. As professional crews they were never known to be beaten by an amateur crew whenever or wherever they were allowed to perform. These champions came not from public school or university environments, but from a hard underprivileged working background. It is a story of memorable individuals, their social environment and their sporting achievements. The book in entirety covers ten generations of the family – nine of which were without exception apprenticed watermen and lightermen, scraping a living on the waters of the Thames. It grapples with the social conditions which they endured – disease, multiple infantile death, hard grinding work and social prejudice. It records their remarkable sporting achievements in a society which didn’t want to know. They were tough people – both wives and husbands – who seemed somehow to believe that they had something special to offer.
The Story of a Riverside Family by Maurice Phelps
Although the book presents a serious view of their lives and the competitive sporting environment against which they performed, it also describes a family which had a huge sense of humour. This book is guaranteed to make the reader laugh. None of the colourful characters involved sat down complaining of their fate, none were grumpy old men; none blamed society for their lot – they laughed at it all and just got on with life – they were remarkable competitors both in their sport and in the way they lived! This book tells their story.