Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A: JUBILEE SOUVENIR The Association suffered two great losses, owing to the deaths of the President, Viscount Alverstone, on December 15th, 1915, and the first President of the Association, the Earl of Jersey. Sir Montague Shear– man was unanimously elected President of the Association. The vacancy in the list of Vice-Presidents caused by the election of Sir Mon– tague Shearman as President was filled by the unanimous election of Mr. W. M. Barnard. A presentation was made to Mr. P. L. Fisher, in recognition of his services as Hon. Secretary. It seems strange to-day to read that in 1916 the Hon. Treasurer reported that owing to several air– raids on London he had taken the responsibility of insuring the Associa– tion's Cups against aircraft risks. A letter was received with reference to holding races on Sundays for men in certain areas where they were engaged on munitions work, and it was decided to reply that the Association was opposed to races on Sundays. The Annual Meetings in I 9 I 7 and I 9 I 8 were largely formal, owing to the War. In 1919 the Association resumed its work on behalf of amateur athletics, and there was a very large attendance at the first Annual Meeting after the War, on April rzth, 1919. The report of the Reconstruction Committee was received, and after considerable discussion it was passed. Its objects were to encourage the formation of County Associations, to promote the provision of playing fields, and many other excellent objects. Provision was also made for the reinstatement of certain competitors who had taken part in events during the War. Space will not permit a full description of the proposals, but they undoubtedly played a great part in the development of the sport. In this year Mr. G. H. Hogsflesh, a well-known competitor in earlier years, was appointed Assistant Secretary, and is still acting in this capacity. At the Annual Meeting in 1920 the death of Mr. E. B. Holmes, a prominent legislator in the Midlands, was reported. 1921-1930 In 1921, at the Annual Meeting, the number of Vice-Presidents was increased from nine to ten, and Mr. A. Fattorini was elected a Vice– President. It was decided that the General Committee should be com– posed of forty members, in the proportions of ten from the North, ten from the Midlands, and twenty from the South, together with certain representatives from Naval, Military and Air Associations, and one repre– sentative each from Oxford and Cambridge Universities and the National Cross-Country Union. The Road Walking Association also received representation on the General Committee. The question of races for women appeared in the agenda for the first time in 1922, and the General Committee expressed the opinion it would be advisable that a separate Athletic Association for women should be formed.