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Post by harrier on May 29, 2014 12:29:08 GMT
Has any one any information about or seen any references to, a 'Keighley Walking Club'? I refer not to a rambling organisation but to the athletic event of competitive race walking. The only information I have, is that it existed either just pre or more probably post WW11. I have only met one member. Unfortunately, it was a long time ago and his name or the details he gave me are now vague. In the mid sixties, I used to work at the Marley track and playing fields during the summer University vacations and this gentleman used to come down during the day to walk ... he was probably in his late 50s early 60s. He had all the correct gear, race walking shoes etc. and obviously knew what he was talking about. The only personal detail I can recall with certainty was that he had been in a mill accident when one of the overhead drive belts had broken and had hit him, causing him to cease working and had meant he could no longer walk competitively. He was adamant that the Keighley Walking Club was an independant athletic club and not part of a Harrier or a section of an Athletics Club. At the time I had never heard of such a club.
I know it is a very very long shot, but any information would be useful to on going research.
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Post by vale on Jun 2, 2014 11:46:35 GMT
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Post by harrier on Jun 4, 2014 19:23:56 GMT
Thanks for that Vale. Ian Dewhirst kindly supplied me with the same a few years ago. It was from the first years of the 20th century when a walking boom occurred across the country (and presumably Wales and Scotland as well??). Initially it was a distance of perhaps one or two miles on the temporary tracks at local shows and up to three miles on the road. The shows put on these walking races to attract competitors to an 'easy' race and provide entertainment to the paying punters. These were very popular for a couple fo reasons; rules on 'contact and straight leg' were not too rigerously applied, and perhaps more importantly, prizes of £5 to £7 were on offer, a lot of money in those days and easy pickings for the 'trained' athletes of the day. Soon long distance races of 30 and 40 miles made their debut and it was these longer races which surprisingly, out lived the boom. It has been difficult to identify local events but contempory to the photograph was the inaugral Bradford to Dick Hudsons and back race in 1903 which continues to this day.
My research at the moment is to try and establish if a Keighley Walking Club actually existed as a separate entity and the sparse information I have is that if it did, it was probably before or just after the WW11. Evidence that any locsal club had an official walking section would be of interest. Of course, because of the nature of the event, after the few short boom years, the sport appealled to only a few and also to a certain type of extrovert; as a consequence information is very difficult to come by.
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Post by vale on Jun 5, 2014 8:36:11 GMT
I would have thought that there would be items in old KN, and possibly minuets and things at the library
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Post by Andy Wade on Jun 6, 2014 11:53:06 GMT
I would have thought that there would be items in old KN, and possibly minuets and things at the library No French dancing allowed in the library Loraine... 
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Post by vale on Jun 7, 2014 11:33:54 GMT
You must be going on the wrong days Andy |
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Post by Andy Wade on Jun 7, 2014 21:34:30 GMT
It's certainly not on a Saturday as I've been in there all day today.
I've scanned the best part of the contents of two archive boxes which we'll be using for the Great War Open Day in there on 21st June.
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Post by Andy Wade on Jun 8, 2014 22:20:22 GMT
I just found this letter from a member of the 'Yorkshire Walking Club' complaining about the dusty roads, which was printed in the Keighley News dated May 15th 1915:  If I spot a reference to a 'Keighley Walking Club' I'll let you know. |
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Post by harrier on Jun 28, 2014 18:59:31 GMT
Without wishing to send everyone off to sleep but as the early walking in Keighley as been mention by Vale, I thought a few more comments might be of some interest. In the athletic literature, it is generally accepted that the fist 'official' Race Walk was in 1903; this presumably means under the rules of the sport, not the Race Walking Association (this was founded later) but most likely the Amateur Athletic Association. There is evidence that walks took place around the Keighley area around this time. A Haworth postcard of 1903 shows the Lancashire Walking Club on New Years Day before they start a race walk from Haworth to Lanshaw Bridge .. and it seems, the other way on alternate years!!! It is difficult to know where the postcard photo was taken, but from bitter (excuse the pun) experience, it can be a bit parkie over the top in winter when running in plenty of kit, never mind walking in shorts and a flimsy top!! The implication of the brief note on the card suggests that there was some kind of 'walking club' in Haworth ... but I am probably committing the clssic error of placing a modern interpretation on a 100 year old postcard comment!! Certainly some Keighley (Ingrow) Harriers took part in 'track' handicap walks pre WW1 in the summer time, but these were probably just 'pot hunters' out for an easy killing with the prizes on offer rather than them having a serious interest in the 'heel and toe' sport. Some genuine walkers used to wear spike running shoes for their walking races on grass tracks though 'one tended to trip if not paying attention' as one of my interviewees said! 'Long grass also caused problems' was the statement from another! After the interviews I tried using spikes to 'race walk' on grass as an experiment ... and I just cannot see how they possibly can have competed in such footwear; a recipe for disaster!!
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Post by harrier on Nov 25, 2014 19:59:14 GMT
Last weekend, I came up to Keighley in my 'Race Walking' search and spent time in the library archives. Do you realise what a gem you have?? Initially, I used the basic microfiche - no cost. I found several items which I copied. How much to photo the items rather than copying long hand - no charge. How much to use the new digital microfiche to copy straight onto my 'stick' - no cost. A warning ... if you want to use the archives in Coventry, make sure you bring your cheque book. If you wish to examine articles in the archives which need retrieving, or you wish to examine documents in the Transport Museum archives which need retrieving, pop down to the bank and take out a loan! £5 for a licence to use a camera to copy 5 items from the microfiche or £10 per day and you won't get any change from a £15 for any retrieved item. And unless you have been lucky on the National Lottery, don't even think about phoning in for information! Oh yes ... and the council are about to start slashing services starting with wholesale closure of local libraries.
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Post by harrier on Nov 27, 2014 19:26:26 GMT
 I am hoping that someone can spot where these photographs are taken, please.The photo with the group seated is outside a pub in HAWORTH as mentioned before when I appealed for help with 'Walking'. Does the pub still exist? Logic dictates that it most likely is in the main street? The second is from a 'Pathe News' clip (again mentioned previously) and is in Glusburn, the building must give a clue as to where the playing field was in the 1920s. The tall chimney (Hayfield Mill?)should help to identify the spot?  |
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Post by Andy Wade on Dec 2, 2014 18:25:03 GMT
If you have the original group photograph, can you see the name of the licensee above the door? The white looking strip to the top right of the picture above the entrance, looks like it might be where they display details of the licensee.
If you know their name then Eddie Kelly will more than likely know which pubs they worked in.
I don't think its any of the Haworth pubs.
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Post by harrier on Dec 8, 2014 19:37:41 GMT
Purely by chance I have partially answered my own original question which I posed in May. I have come across a press cutting mentioning Keighley Road Walking Club as a independent club in 1927.(Telegraph and Argus December 20th 1948) That's the good news, the bad news is that I would like further help from Forum members if possible!! The cutting refers to the Keighley walker but only by surname - Webb - but it does mention his wife's address as Lyndale Brow Road, Haworth. By the time of the cutting he was dead. For his running he was a member of Airedale Athletic Club (that is probably a reporter's error, more likely to be Airedale Harriers), probably because the Keighley's Harrier club (the Parish Church Harriers) had folded once more.
Would anyone have information about a descendant of the Webbs? Not only is it a long shot to find a relative, but the odds are even greater for them to have information - at least it is worth a try. Thanks.
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maryb
Senior Member
Posts: 448
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Post by maryb on Dec 9, 2014 13:59:03 GMT
1946 electoral register
John Henry Webb "Lyndale" Brow Road Haworth with wife Millicent.
he was born @ 1913 died 1979
married Millicent Hainsworth in 1932 had 3 children.
Maryb.
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Post by harrier on Dec 9, 2014 16:12:05 GMT
Thanks for that Maryb ... I have just checked the T & A date which is definately 1948 and the quote is also definate 'my late husband'!!! I do not think there is a way of misinterpriting the cutting, but I am probably wrong. Let us hope that a relative gets in touch. What is really spooky is that my daughter lives in Lyndale ..... 140 miles from Keighley. Do I ask my wife to get in touch with the men in white coats now or wait until after Christmas?  ?? |
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maryb
Senior Member
Posts: 448
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Post by maryb on Dec 9, 2014 18:59:08 GMT
I have checked again John Henry and Millicent Webb at Lyndale 1939-1957.
1957 also had daughter Judith with them.
They had another daughter who is on genes reunited, I have sent her a message to see if she can help.
I will let you know the outcome.
Maryb.
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Post by dhutchy on Dec 21, 2014 19:56:59 GMT
The pub frontage looks like it could be the Royal oak on mill hey in Haworth it has a window to the left of the main entrance like in the photo .The running track in Glusburn looks in the same area where the cricket and football pitches are today at the end of the coppice off manse way.
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Post by barcrofter on Dec 21, 2014 21:39:22 GMT
John and Millicent Webb's daugher Judith married a man from Wakefield called Frank Endersby. The last time I saw her was in 1996 when her husband had died.
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Post by harrier on Dec 23, 2014 19:48:27 GMT
After what has been said, I have looked at the cutting again. It was a cutting of part of a page and the date (clearly printed) must refer to a previous, much older report. If the cutting was from some kind of 'history' piece, or a 'Memory Lane' feature,so that the date was from the original report and not the date the page was printed, it would then make perfect sense and tie in nicely with what Maryb has posted. I should know better!!!!
Season's greetings to all.
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Post by harrier on Dec 23, 2014 19:48:38 GMT
After what has been said, I have looked at the cutting again. It was a cutting of part of a page and the date (clearly printed) must refer to a previous, much older report. If the cutting was from some kind of 'history' piece, or a 'Memory Lane' feature,so that the date was from the original report and not the date the page was printed, it would then make perfect sense and tie in nicely with what Maryb has posted. I should know better!!!!
Season's greetings to all.
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Post by harrier on Jan 19, 2016 18:15:36 GMT
I am a little further down the road with my investigations about the local Race Walking scene .. pun intended!!!
Although harrier and athletics activity was not formally organised until the mid 1890s in the town, certain individuals from the area did compete in the various sports (Skipton, Glusburn, Halifax, Brighouse, Leeds etc.) on a regular basis before this date. Two race walkers in particular were successful and regularly collected prizes over a number of years at the different 'sports'. Although competing at the same time, I have yet to find W.H.Smith (I kid you not!!) and J.H.Wilson going head to head in a race. Post WW1 C.Wolfenden was very good. Unlike Smith and Wilson who competed over 1 and 2 mile distances on the temporary grass tracks marked out especially for each particular 'sports', Wolfenden specialised in long distance races such as the Morecambe to Bradford, the Dick Hudson Walk, the Bradford to York, Doncaster to Sheffield and the like. He was a Steeton resident, initially competing for the Keighley club before joining the Yorkshire Walking Club which had its H.Q. on the Keighley side of Bradford.
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Post by harrier on Sept 22, 2016 11:57:03 GMT
..... FINALLY at last ...... Keighley Walking Club was founded on May 26th 1914 at a specially convened meeting at the Hope and Anchor in Halifax Road. And who was in the chair for the meeting? ... Major Cass (see my other enquiry about Major Cass). Interestingly (at least for me) was the fact that the Keighley Walking Club was formed as a branch of the Yorkshire Walking Club, the person chosen as captain of the new club, being the vice captain of the Y.W.C.. Let me explain that a 'branch' was formed in a town when the distance of travel for training to the main club was time consuming. The branch members were full members of the mother club, and if they were any good, would be chosen to represent the main club in important competitions. After WW1, a tide of resentment against 'branches' grew, and by the early years of the 1920s, legislation was passed by the sport's governing body that no branch could be created within a 5 miles radius of an existing club's headquarters. This lead to most branches folding or becoming independent. In reality, if it was the latter, relations between mother club and the newly pseudo independent branch continued as before, it taking a decade for it to die out completely.
In the Midlands for example, a Birmingham club, Birchfield Harriers, set up many branches from Wolverhampton to Coventry to Bromsgrove. The Coventry branch became independent in 1921 becoming the Coventry Birchfield Harriers, but it was 1937 before ties were final severed when it became the Coventry Harriers (not to be confused with Coventry Godiva Harriers).
The Keighley Harriers area of recruitment stretched from Skipton to Bingley, the Aire and Worth Valleys and up to the Lancashire Border near Nelson, the Lancashire Walking Club objecting officially to any encroachment into the county!! One outcome of the formation was to influence nearly all the local village and Dales shows which had sports as part of their programme, to included a 2 mile track walk.
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