Douglas Edmunds

Edmunds was born on 29 May 1944 in Glasgow, Scotland, to John and Izabella Edmunds, and was named after Douglas Young. One of four children, he lived in the former Netherton army camp. He attended St Colombia's RC prep school in Largs and St Joseph's College, Dumfries, where he played rugby for the South of Scotland schools match against Wales and won titles in shot put and discus. In 2013, Edmunds was diagnosed with cancer. He died on 30 October 2020. == Strength sports ==

Edmunds started competing in strength sports professionally in 1975. He won the world caber tossing championships in 1976 and 1978. He organised the World Highland Games Championships in Lagos, Nigeria in 1981. Between 1992 and 2004, he was the contest's head referee. In 2007, Edmunds created the Goddodin Games in a bid to revive the Highland Games and strongman sports, which he felt had become tired. He believed that the sports should be about engaging and entertaining crowds. Edmunds has written three books: The Warrior Breed, ''The World's Greatest Tosser, and Giants and Legends''. == Personal Records ==

• Caber Toss – Braemar challenge caber at 12 o'clock (1976 World Caber Tossing Championships) (world record) • Caber Toss (for distance) – for (1985 World Muscle Power Classic) (world record) == Family ==

His father, born John Morris, was part of a group of Scottish nationalists who plotted to steal the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey. He later changed his surname to Edmunds after being arrested for bigamy and to avoid charges of desertion from the army. Edmunds' paternal grandfather, also called John Morris, fought for money in fairground booths. He married Moira Edmunds (née Graham) in 1970, with whom he had two children, and separated in the 1980s. In 1992 he married Linda Edmunds and had another child by her. == References ==