Charles Edward Saunders (13 September 1902 – 1 September 1994) was a New Zealand

rower Rowing, sometimes called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars are attached to the boat using oarlocks, while paddles are not connected to the boat. Rowing is ...

who competed at the

1930 British Empire Games The 1930 British Empire Games were the inaugural edition of what now is known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, Ontario, from 16 to 23 August 1930. The games were organized by ''Hamilton Spectator'' sportswriter Bobby Robinso ...

, winning two medals, and at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Early life and family

Born in Blenheim on 13 September 1902, Saunders was the youngest son of George Frederick Saunders and Elizabeth Saunders (née Lawrance). On 6 May 1935, he married Merle Moore at St Andrew's Church, Blenheim, and the couple went on to have three children.

Rowing

A member of the Wairau Rowing Club, Saunders represented New Zealand at the

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a Canada 2016 Census, population of 569,353, and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington, ...

. He was a member of the men's eight that won the silver medal, and the men's coxless four that won the bronze medal. At the 1932 Summer Olympics, he was part of the New Zealand men's coxed four that finished fourth in the final.

Later life and death

In the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours, Saunders was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

, for services to rowing and the community. He died on 1 September 1994, and his ashes were buried at Omaka Cemetery, Blenheim.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Charles 1902 births 1994 deaths Sportspeople from Blenheim, New Zealand New Zealand male rowers Olympic rowers for New Zealand Rowers at the 1932 Summer Olympics Rowers at the 1930 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games silver medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire Commonwealth Games medallists in rowing Burials at Omaka Cemetery New Zealand justices of the peace Medallists at the 1930 British Empire Games