Elwyn Hartley Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 April 1927 |
| Died | 9 December 2007 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | UK |
| Occupation(s) | Equestrian writer and judge |
| Awards |
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Elwyn Hartley Edwards, MC, (1927–2007) was a British equestrian judge, editor and prolific writer.
Captain Elwyn Hartley Edwards served in the British Army for 13 years as a Gurkha officer in India and Malaya, and was awarded the Military Cross. He was later posted as an instructor of military history at the Indian Military Academy.[1][2]
Back in England, Edwards worked for Gibson Saddlers, rising to managing director. Edwards was the editor of Riding magazine for 18 years, and the consultant editor for Horse & Hound for five years. He served as a regional chairman of the British Horse Society and as a member of the BHS council, receiving the society's Award of Merit in 1993. He was a vice-president of the Riding for the Disabled Association, and vice-patron of the Horse and Pony Protection Association. He regularly judged horse shows in the UK and was an authority on lorinery (saddlery).[1][2]
Edwards wrote more than 30 books on horse-related subjects. His books were translated into 12 languages, reprinted numerous times, and Edwards would revise them when there were new developments.[1] Some books sold over a million copies.[2]
Genevieve Murphy of The Independent called Edwards "one of the most prolific and authoritative equestrian writers of the 20th century."[2] British Horse Society Chairman Patrick Print said: "He was a brilliant journalist and one of the world's leading authorities on saddlery and the history of it. He wrote many equestrian books which were published around the globe. Elwyn was a great historian of equitation and always wrote in a forthright manner, particularly in his regular column for the Society's magazine, British Horse."[3] Cassandra Campbell at his publisher J.A. Allen remarked, "He was a true delight to work with, incredibly charming and generous and very, very funny."[1]
Edwards married Mary Hodgson in 1955 and they settled in Chwilog, Wales in the late 1950s. Together they had two daughters. Edwards died 9 December 2007.[2]
