Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR With the founding of the Amateur Athletic Association '' Registered Meetings" under A.A.A. Laws became, so to speak, common, and gradu– ally a "fading-out" process, in respect to professional meetings, became evident. This was due largely to the policy of appointing Local Officers, whose energy and influence were rapidly establishing the cause of the A.A.A. on a sound and lasting basis. In the Home or London area the task of these Local Officers was light by comparison with that of those in the outlying or County districts, an example of which may be mentioned if one may be excused for intro– ducing a personal experience. A certain body of officials, whose meeting was being run under A.A.A. Laws, deemed it advisable to engage the services of the local police as a protective measure to ensure that the meeting was carried out without undue interference and for the protection of the Referee and Local Officer, a precaution, in the opinion of the latter, which was quite unnecessary. At this meeting a tug-of-war contest was included, the teams being drawn from a wide area of adjoining districts where exceptionally keen rivalry existed, and where the respective partisans had gambled heavily upon the result. In spite of an "electrified" atmosphere created by one or two disqualifications, the result was accepted in a fine sporting spirit, much to the amazement of the officials and police, and this attitude on the part of the contesting teams and their " red-hot" supporters was solely due to the growth of appreciation of the principles of the A.A.A., and what was termed "a square deal" for all at the hands of the official appointed by that body. To-day, after an interval of some thirty years, it is a pleasing memory that where interference and untoward happenings were anticipated, the Referee left the ground with the sound of" Three cheers for the A.A.A." ringing in his ears. Succeeding years saw a continual growth of respect for, and interest in, the administrative work of the Association, and then came the abolition of Local Officers and the introduction of District Committees. It is, however, almost incredible that during the next decade stagnation, or shall we call it a certain complacency, seems to have appeared among those who had previously done so well. There were, however, a number of progressive spirits who cou]d not be persuaded that the work was finished. The reputation and influence of our Association had spread outside our own country, but within there was no progress compared with the promise of earlier efforts. True, athletic meetings had increased all over the country, International and Olympic efforts were undertaken, but these did not satisfy those restless ones who had visions of greater activity, and consequently more far-reaching results, if energy could be directed towards the Counties. But it was left to the War period of 1914-1918 to provide the solution. Foremost amongst the protagonists in these progressive ideas was Mr. Charles Otway, who during this period placed his time and unbounded energy, plus his wide experience of Athletics, at the dis- 80