Olympic Bronze

News of an Olympic Bronze Medal comes not from Sochi but from the London Games of 1908.  Rhyl Hockey Club member Llewelyn Blackwell Evans represented Wales and was a Bronze Medal winner.

The 1908 Olympic Games were originally awarded to Rome but were relocated on financial grounds to London after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 1906.  The games ran from April 27th – October 31st.  2,008 athletes took part – 1,971 men and 37 women.  It was the first time there was a purpose built stadium, The White City Stadium with a capacity of 68,000.

The following is from the Rhyl Record and Advertiser, 7th November, 1908:

HOCKEY

The Olympic Games

“The international matches between Germany, France, England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland were the last of the 1908 Olympic Winter Games.  Wales were drawn against Ireland and the match was played on Friday, October 30th.  A keenly fought game resulted in victory for Ireland by 3 goals to 1.  The Welsh forward line was somewhat weakened by the absence of the chosen centre forward H. Connah, who was unable to play.  But still the game was the most closely contested of all the ties.”

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“It is not often one town in North Wales is honoured by having three representatives selected for such an important match – Messrs Ll. B. Evans, H. Connah and F. Connah* are the trio, which proves that Rhyl are well up in this interesting pastime.  H. Connah being in the forward line, F. Connah half back and Ll. B. Evans, back.  Mr Connah (senior) was also asked to referee one of the matches, but was unable to do so.”

image shows the match between Germany and Scotland at the 1908 Olympic Games

* online research shows Ll. B. Evans affiliated to Rhyl Hockey Club, F. Connah affiliated to Colwyn Bay Hockey Club and no reference to H. Connah (presumably because he was unable to play in the final)

Tommy Burns – High Diver.

TRAGIC DEATH OF A HIGH DIVER AT RHYL

TOMMY BURNS’ FIRST AND LAST DIVE FROM THE PIER HEAD

ATTEMPTED GALLANT RESCUE

image by kind permission of Les Powell, http://www.tommyburns.org.uk/

These were headlines  in the Rhyl Journal, July 10th 1897, describing the death of the world renowned high diver, swimmer, stuntman, lifesaver and athlete, Tommy Burns.

Diving and aquatic exhibitions from the Pier Head were an institution in Rhyl and the visit of high diver Tommy Burns had been well advertised and eagerly anticipated.

On a Tuesday afternoon in July, 1897, a large crowd waited to see Tommy Burns dive from the Pier.  A stand had been erected , the stage of which was 57 feet above the high water mark and from which the sensational high dive was to be taken.  In actual fact, it was a relatively easy dive for Tommy as his previous displays included dives from the Runcorn Bridge, London Bridge, Forth Bridge and the Tay Bridge. He was, at that time, the first and only man to have dived from the roof of the Royal Aquarium, London into a tank six feet deep, on March 20th, 1895.

It had been a weary wait for the crowd that afternoon, a strong north westerly wind was blowing, the Ladies’ Hungarian Band had not played, as had been announced, and Tommy Burns was almost an hour late appearing.

The article says:  “The spectators patient waiting was rewarded by seeing Burns walking up to the Pier.  He entered the shelter set apart as a dressing room, and after a further delay he re-appeared in a diving costume.  It was observed that on leaving the shelter he staggered, but his passage to the structure was a straight one.”  Tommy had travelled through the night from Edinburgh and appeared tired, also the Rhyl Record and Advertiser reported:  “that Tommy had been partaking too liberally of the cheering cup which inebriates was at once apparent”.

The Rhyl Journal continued: “without a doubt Burns looked a very fine specimen of manhood standing at that elevated position, being over 13 stone in weight, well built and finely proportioned.”

Then “placing himself in a stooping posture he dived off the stage.  For more than half the distance he retained a correct diving position, but when level with the Pier, he appeared to turn over on his back, probably being affected by the strong wind, and he fell flat onto his back into the water.”

image source: The National Library of Wales http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=4723

He appeared to recover and then using breast stroke and side stroke he swam away from the pier.  It was almost half an hour later before it was decided that Tommy was not himself.  Two men, Professor Baume and Mr A MacCann of Rhyl Swimming Club swam to assist him and a message was dispatched for a boat to be launched.  The two rescuers managed to bring Tommy to the side of the pier, Baume managed to tie a rope around Tommy and they were both hauled up onto the pier.  Once Tommy was on the pier “Captain Veale, Inspector Williams and the coastguard, with others, did all in their power to restore animation.  Dr. Girdlestone arrived within a short space of time, and the usual means of restoring life were resorted to.”

After twenty minutes it was announced that Tommy Burns was dead and “within a very short time after the sad ending Mr Robert Morris Evans developed a splendid negative which he had secured of Tommy Burns’s last dive.  A print was exhibited in his shop in High Street at an early hour, and throughout the evening it was almost impossible to pass the pavement by Magnet Studio, so great was the crowd of persons anxious to see the picture. ( a latter day version of posting the photo straight onto social media.  It also seems rather voyeuristic.)

The inquest was held the day afterwards at the Town Hall, a full account of which appeared in the Rhyl Journal.  At the inquest Dr. Girdlestone was of the opinion that Burns first sustained “a concussion of the brain, and afterwards was drowned.”  His friend Mathew Hand Byrne said “He was not sober and he was not drunk”.  The Coroner said “he did not think that the deceased was in a fit state to go on the stage that day” also “there ought to have been a boat ready to pick up the deceased if he required assistance, and in that respect there was no doubt negligence.”  The jury came to the unanimous verdict of accidental death by drowning.”

Tommy Burns was 29 when he died, leaving his his wife of nine months a penniless widow.

Learn more about Tommy Burns:

http://www.tommyburns.org.uk/

Bowls…

Ever popular, the game of bowls is seen here being played in:

Seabank Road, date unknown, note the gasometer in the background.

The East Parade, date unknown, but note the swimming baths – so post 1930.

The Botanical Gardens, date unknown.

The East Parade again, date unknown – but showing the Pavilion, so after 1908.  Note the tennis courts in the background.

Here is a similar view, but this one shows the tennis courts more clearly.

click images to enlarge

This footage is from over thirty years ago, British Open Pairs Quarter Finals filmed in Rhyl in 1982:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hI8xsV04U0

Football by the Electric Light!

The story that Rhyl was the first place in the world to hold a football match under floodlights has always seemed rather fanciful.  A little research reveals that Rhyl teams were probably the first teams in Wales to play under floodlights, although the match was held in Abergele.

In his book “Rhyl, the Town and its People”, J.W. Jones says “1879 – Thomas Edison provided floodlighting for the World’s first floodlit football match at Rhyl.”  However, this was not the case.

The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, on Tuesday, October 15th, 1878 carried a big article entitled “Football by the Electric Light”.  Here is part of the article:

“The Sheffield public were last evening introduced to a decided novelty in football – a match with the assistance of the electric light.  The contest, which took place at Bramall Lane Ground between two teams selected by the Sheffield Football Association was the first ever played in this country – or anywhere else we believe – with the aid of artificial illumination.” *

Less than six months later on Saturday, February 8th, 1879 The North Wales Chronicle carried this advertisement on its front page:

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  Image reproduced with kind permission of The British Newspaper Archive.      http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000094/18790208/001/0001

On Saturday, March 1st, 1879 The North Wales Chronicle ran an article of which this is part:

“Football Match by the Electric Light – Recently a grand football match, under the patronage of Mr John Roberts M.P., was played in the field adjoining the Bee Hotel, Abergele, the field being illuminated by electric light.  The teams came from Rhyl, and were the Grosvenor and the Skull and Cross Bones respectively.  The latter club were successful, obtaining two goals to one.  The illumination arrangements were intrusted to Messrs Welch and Scott, the eminent engineering firm of Manchester.  The light was exceedingly brilliant, the field being as clear as day.  Owing to the severity of the weather the attendance was but small.  The machines which were used for producing the light were Siemen’s dynamo-electric machines, each of which gave light equal to 600 standard candles.  The electric current was produced by a cylinder of insulated copper wire revolving before the poles of an electric magnet.”*

The Rhyl Record and Advertiser also carried a report of the above match on Saturday February 15th, 1879:

“Football played by aid of the Electric Light – The usually quiet town of Abergele was very lively on Thursday night last, owing to several influential gentlemen having engaged Messrs Welsh and Scott, Manchester, to exhibit the Electric Light, by the aid of which the above game was played.” and “A charge of 1s was made for admission, a very large number attended, as it was the first time it had been exhibited in this part.  The only pity being that the weather had been so unfavourable during the day, making the ground unsuitable for playing, notwithstanding which the teams played with great vigour for about an hour, the game ended in favour of the Skull and Crossbones, who succeeded in having three goals against one of the opponents, the Grosvenor’s.  We have no doubt had the weather not been so unfavourable a great many would have come from Rhyl if it was only for curiosity’s sake.”

So, it seems that Sheffield held the first floodlit match in October, 1878,  the floodlit game between two Rhyl teams at Abergele soon followed on February 13th, 1879.  Rhyl did indeed host a floodlit match, this was held on Thursday, February 27th, 1879  The Rhyl Record and Advertiser reported the match on Saturday, March 1st:

“”Football Match by Electric Light – On Thursday evening a football match was played in a field on Wellington Road, by the aid of the electric light, the competitors being the Grosvenor and another club going under the cognomen of the “Skull and Crossbones” football kickers.  Every precaution had been made by the speculators for a rich harvest of gate money by an effectual barricade of the premises; but we believe that they were as much disappointed in that respect as we were at the entertainment offered for the sixpence and shillings paid for witnessing it.  Anything more inconceivably ridiculous we could not possibly imagine than the spectacle of a lot of young men on an evidently purposeless exhibition of one of our best national games.  However, it was announced to be a drawn game, and there the beribbed guernseys and the skull and crossbones ditto sent up a hearty cheer, the glaring light was put out, and we joined the disappointed throng in groping our way home determined to apply our sixpences to better use in future”.

Read more about the World’s first floodlit match at Sheffield below:

http://www.chrishobbs.com/firstfloodlitfootball1878.htm

*from The British Newspaper Archive http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Frank and his football.

Rhyl History Club member Ruth Pritchard recently took part in a competition run by Archives Wales called “Tell us Your Story.” Ruth told the story of her great grandfather F.J.H.Beech, aka Frank, who was born in Rhyl in 1874, became a football referee and died of typhoid at the young age of 33.

Archives Wales has used some of the winning stories to create short films.

Click the link below to see Frank’s story, how the Archives can help the family/local historian and to see Rhyl’s ground Belle Vue looking a credit to the club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXXjigd4Ifs

The winning stories can be viewed by clicking the link below:

http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/welsh-archives-reveal-winning-stories/

The Great Walk from Liverpool to Rhyl 1903.

The recent success of Rhyl’s first Triathalon reminded me of the old adage “there ain’t nothing new”, as I thought about the “Great Walk from Liverpool to Rhyl”, in 1903.

Almost exactly 110 years ago, on June 13th 1903, the Rhyl Record and Advertiser reported the great walk:

THE GREAT WALK from Liverpool to Rhyl

ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES

FINE PERFORMANCES

“”Rhyl was, on Friday last, the culminating scene of a novel and most interesting competition, the development of the recent craze among businessmen for long distance walks.  It originated with the London Stock Exchange race to Brighton which was won by Mr Edgar F. Broad.  Then followed the Manchester Stock Exchange Walk to Southport which was won by Mr A. Ormrod who covered the distance of forty one and a half miles in seven hours, eleven minutes and eight seconds.  The example set by these two great exchanges was followed on Friday by the Liverpool Cotton Exchange.  The route was from Liverpool to Rhyl a distance of forty two and a quarter miles and traversing country of much picturesqueness and charm.”

The race started at the New Ferry Tram Terminus, and then to Bromborough, Eastham and then down the Welsh Road to Queensferry.  Then on to Mold, Nannerch and on past Caerwys Station to Trefnant, St. Asaph and Rhuddlan.  They entered Rhyl via Vale Road finishing on the Promenade at the top of High Street, opposite the Westminster Hotel.

The newspaper goes on to say:

“The competitors were accompanied by Oxo Motor Cars who supplied them gratis with “refreshments without waiting” in order to provide them with the necessary sustenance for their great effort of endurance, the menu being as follows: Oxo Athlete’s Flask (containing Oxo ready for consumption while walking), Oxo hot and cold, Oxo and Soda, Oxo and Champagne,, Rice Pudding (made of milk, eggs and rice), Cheese, Butter, Biscuits, Bananas, Apples, Brandy, Whisky, Champagne, Eau de Cologne and Sponges.  In addition they supplied each competitor with a pair of corks such as is usually carried by pedestrians in walking competitions.

At Rhyl the council had barricaded from High Street to the Westminster Hotel where the winning post was fixed, so that the competitors should not be impeded by the crowds which had gathered to witness their arrivals.  The following were the conditions of the race: “The regulation heel and toe shall be observed.”  “Any competitor found running by the stewards will be disqualified”  “All competitors must wear numbers which will be provided: these must be worn on back and front.”

“A great crowd witnessed the arrival at Rhyl, and the telegraphic reports of the progress of the walkers at various stages were scanned with eager interest.  The Vale Road Bridge and all along High Street, right up to the finishing point at the end of the Belvoir Hotel was lined with thousands of spectators, the route from the top of High street  to the culminating point of the journey being lined with ropes.”

“A great cheer about 3.10 announced the approach of the first arrival, Stopford Taylor, who passed the Post Office at 3.12 and the winning post with a fine swinging pace evidently in the pink of condition at 3.14 being greeted by a tremendous ovation and the warm handshaking of his friends, his victory evidently being a popular one”

Stopford Taylor of Liverpool walked the distance in 7 hours 35 and a half minutes.  Celebrations took place at the Queen’s Palace, Stopford Taylor was presented with a flower bowl on the large verandah in front of thousands of people and to the strains of “See the Conquering hero comes” played by the band.

In June 2013, at Rhyl’s first Triathalon, there were many competitors from Merseyside and beyond but it was won by local man Glenn Parry Jones.

The British Triathalon website describes the event:

“A new sprint and standard distance triathlon based at the Marine Lake in Rhyl. A 750m or 1500m open water swim in the picturesque Marine Lake is followed by a 20km or 40km cycle and finished with a 5 or 10km run along the sea front. Great facilities and great racing awaits you.”

Let’s wish the event a long and successful future.