Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR of events-based on that of the A.A.A. Championships, even if not quite so extensive. As an instance of what the new policy effected, in fact its whole bearing upon the athletic life of a County, let us take the case of what is known as the "Hop County "-Kent. Its reputation for sport generally needs no comment. Professionalism had been rife from time immemorial, but, generally speaking, the question of" pro" or amateur from the sporting point of view did not arise ; it was simply, " Here is a sporting event– get on with it." Consequently the term " a hot-bed of professionalism" became synonymous with the name of Kent County. The inception of the Counties movement has changed all this. This Association was founded at Maidstone in 1920, with the Most Hon. the Marquis Camden as President and Mr. Charles Otway as Secretary. A policy was adopted of going out into the highways and byways and bringing under the influence of the County body the many little flower shows, garden parties and galas of all kinds where sports were always part of the programme, and establishing them as registered bodies, and of visiting the districts where professional meetings had previously flourished in an endeavour to carry the war into the enemy's camp. Thus County Championships were taken, amongst other places, to Sittingbourne, Chatham, Gravesend, Folkestone, etc., etc., until now, after ten years' work, the County has become, practically speaking, a I oo per cent. Amateur area with an enthusiastic public and a thriving Association rich in work and spirit if poor in finance. This is a condition of things which cannot but react to the benefit of the parent body and Athletics generally. And what has been accomplished there applies generally, in a varying measure, to all the other Counties that have seriously taken up the County movement. There may appear to be some little ambiguity in this statement, but it must be remembered that there are some Counties which by virtue of the fact that they labour under the disadvantages of sparse populations, or more widely-spread populous areas, and are far removed from the hub of Southern Athletics, such as Devon, Cornwall, Gloucester, Somerset, etc., etc., lack that inspiring influence which one gets from enthusiastic neigh– bours. It is with them a question more of environment than lack of the right spirit and energy which is the cause of the "varying measure" of support to the movement, and consequent lack of any material success. Their loyalty and enthusiasm are self-evident from the fairly regular supply of County reports, and the attendance of County delegates at the monthly meetings at John Street, and if it is any consolation to these Counties so handicapped, it may be added that there are some, even nearer to head– quarters, whose difficulties at times appear to be a burden sufficient to discourage the most optimistic. Possibly, however, the Counties Athletic Union may help to find a solution to this problem. At the moment their work, aims, difficulties, or any other phase of County work are-as already stated-submitted monthly to John Street. 82