12 September 2026

By Tim Koch

On Friday 9 October, Leander Club, Henley, will host Martin Cross in conversation with Jeremy Randall about Martin’s new book To Gallipoli and the Somme. F. S. Kelly: War hero, Olympic champion and Composer, by Martin Cross and Dr. Thérèse Radic.

A press release says:

Frederick Septimus Kelly is the subject of this first full biography, written by Martin Cross and Dr. Thérèse Radic. 

Kelly was born in Sydney but educated at Eton and Oxford. He was one of the world’s greatest single scullers, winning the Diamond Sculls three times and setting a record that lasted almost 40 years. He was the last man to win the Diamonds and Grand on the same day. In 1908, he was part of the British eight that ‘saved’ the honour of British rowing by beating Belgium in the Olympic final. 

He was an acclaimed pianist and is one of Australia’s greatest classical composers. His compositions have been performed at the Proms, most notably in 2014 to mark the centenary of the First World War. That piece was his Elegy in Memoriam Rupert Brooke, the great war poet. Kelly was close to Brooke and was part of his burial party, enroute to the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. 

Kelly fought through all the Gallipoli campaign and was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for ‘conspicuous gallantry’ during the evacuation of the Peninsula in January 1916. He served in Northern France and was killed at the end of the Battle of the Somme, leading his men during the successful attack on Beaucourt Sur l’Ancre in November 1916. He was 35.

Kelly had led a privileged life. He inherited wealth; his father was a mining magnate. He knew all the right people and had access to power and influence. He was the life and soul of any house party, witty, engaging and invited everywhere. His diaries record that privileged life, led against the background of Edwardian high society and high athletic achievement. 

Martin Cross won gold in the coxed four at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He published an acclaimed autobiography, Olympic Obsession in 2001, and is currently working part-time as a history teacher and rowing coach at Hampton School. He was the Guardian’s rowing correspondent between 2003 and 2012. He co-commentates with Greg Searle for World Rowing’s international events and was recently part of the commentary team for Channel 4’s television coverage of the University Boat Races. He hosts the YouTube channel, Crossy’s Corner.

Dr. Thérèse Radic of Melbourne University is the author/editor of 10 books, 18 plays and some 200 articles, monographs, chapters and reviews on aspects of Australian music history. Currently, as well as being the co-author of this book, she is the world’s leading expert on Kelly.

The discussion between Martin and Jeremy will be followed at 7.30 by two course set supper, £30 per person, payable in advance. To book, go here.