Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

JUBILEE DINNER A.A.A. on the occasion of this great anniversary, " Well done." He thanked them for the work which had been done in assisting clubs, and in doing the best they could for Athletics in this country. He also thanked them for the good work done for the thousands of young men who never would be champions, but who were standing up for the ideals they all wished to see attained. There was one thing he would like to see as a Jubilee gift to sport, and that was a ational ground. Grounds could be obtained, and, if they wished, they could borrow the money. No difficulties should stop them, and whatever they did they should get a ground, and have a good one. He hoped that as a result of the Jubilee, the Association would do this, and it would succeed without any thought of dirt tracks, or anything of that kind, which spoil the sport controlled by the Association. He hoped the work of the A.A.A. would be continued for many years, and what he said of the Association he would also say of its excellent Hon. Secretary, Sir Harry Barclay. Sir Harry Barclay (Hon. Secretary), replying, after referring to the early days of Athletics and the Association, said he regretted that with the exception of five of the founders of the Association, all had passed away, Mr. James Gibb during the last fortnight. Two of the founders were with them-Mr. J. E. Fowler-Dixon, one of their Vice-Presidents, and Mr. R.H. Macauley-and he hoped they would live for many years yet. The motto of the Association was taken from the Olympian Odes of Pindar : TAcHYTAS PoooN AcMAI TE IscHNos. This meant" Swiftness offoot and the flower ofstrength," which appeared to be very appropriate. The present membership of the Association consisted of 991 Clubs and Associations in the following proportions : North, 222 ; Midlands, 1 57 ; and South, 612. Everyone connected with the Association hoped that the Association would have a home of its own. A Ground Committee had been brought into existence, and had visited many places in and near London. At one time a convenient site was found, but as the money required for a deposit was not immediately available, the ground was snapped up by manu– facturing concerns, and the opportunity lost. Sir Harry Barclay said he had an announcement which would be of con– siderable interest to all who followed the progress of the Association. Their late President, Sir Montague Shearman, had for a long time been very keen on the Association obtaining a ground of its own, or in con– junction with other amateur bodies. It was his intention to have made a special appeal at this Jubilee celebration for that purpose, and to have started the fund. Recognising that in his bad state of health he might not be spared to be with them to-night, he arranged with the Hon. Treasurer to pay over to a special Ground Fund account the sum of £500, as an expression of his gratitude to the Association, and at an interview with Mr. Barnard and himself within ten days of his death, the President desired that this announcement should be made at the Jubilee 129