Mexborough and Swinton Times January 27, 1939
Members of the Jump Gymnasium at their annual meeting on Saturday
“Apparently the urgency of the keep fit movement does not strike the members of the Wombwell Urban Council as it does. Perhaps they have the impression were nothing more than a small band of responsible youths.”
The members of Jump St George’s health and strength club are keenly disappointed at the refusal of the Wombwell UDC. to allow them use of the Welfare Hall at Jump for training purposes, and the above statement by their secretary, Mr. J. W Oxspring, at the annual meeting of the was made at the annual meeting of the club in the Church-schools, Jump, on Friday.
Greatly Hampered
Mr. Oxspring said the good work of the gymnasium had been greatly hampered by lack of accommodation.
Other organisations had the use of the Church Schools at Jump and the club had had to be satisfied with one night a week for training, which was not enough. Recently the club applied to the Wombwell U.D.C. for use of the Welfare Hall on two nights a week but the application was declined. “In view of the great importance attached to the keep-fit movement throughout the country,” he said, “we expected every assistance. We deplore the off-hand way in which our application was dealt with.”
Mr. OxsprIng said they contended that where the support of the local authority would increase the interest in keep-fit work support should be readily given. Their difficulties could easily have been overcome, and at practically no expense if they had been granted at least temporary use of the Welfare Hall which, during the winter at any rate, was practically idle.
Their club comprised 30 young men, all keen well organised and well disciplined. They would welcome any opportunity of showing the efficiency attained by the club members.
Mr. Oxspring said that from the outset the past year had been a successful one. Their finances had been kept healthy as well as their bodies. The income from members’ subscriptions was £10 17s 7d, and they had finished the year with a balance of £3 14s. 9d. In addition they had added new equipment to the gym, purchasing new jumping stands and a medicine ball.
The largest items on the debit side of their balance sheet were what they had handed over to church funds. They paid a rental of £2 and had made grants totalling £1 5s 0d. He thought that was very commendable in a club which was entirely self-supporting.
In collaboration with the Reverend S.E. Tuffs curate in charge of St George’s, Jump, they held a sportsman service just before Christmas, the first of the kind ever held at Jump.
He hoped their efforts to fulfil their obligations as a church organisation were appreciated
The club also made a subscription toward a testimonial gift to the Rev. E. C. Corke, formerly curate in charge of St. George’s, who was elected President at the last annual meeting and had since left the district for Norfolk. They had evidence that Mr. Tuffs, his successor, was interested in their movement and would support them so far as lay in his power.
During the year the club had done service at various charitable functions in providing displays. The work was entirely voluntary, the members even paying their own travelling and out of
pocket expenses.
Reviewing the past year they could this look back on two proud performances. During the year their oldest member and vice-president, Mr. Dan Cusworth, who had attained the age of 48, contested the title of the North of England champion club swinger. Mr. Cusworth lost by only two points, a performance which was highly creditable, especially having regard to the fact that he was swinging clubs practically three times the size and weight of his opponents’.
“Best Developed Man”
The other member to distinguish himself was Charles Jarrett of Church Street, Jump, who at Leeds in October, won the distinction of being “Yorkshire’s best developed man,” The achievement was really a personal one as they all knew how keen was Jarrett’s interest in physical culture, and how hard he had trained in order to achieve physical perfection.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Reverend S.E.Tuffs, who also addressed the members and told them of a scheme under which he had arranged to hold “Men’s Own” meetings in St. George’s Church on Sunday afternoons every month, the meetings to start at 3 p.m.
It was his intention, he said, to talk briefly on “This business of Living,” and to open the meetings out for free discussion, politics barred. His intention was to encourage the men of the district to get up and speak, and to induce them to think seriously about their faith. The idea was a development of the Sportsmen’s service held in October and he was glad to say it had already been taken up enthusiastically. The meeting promised to give Mr. Tuffs their support.
New Officials
The follovrIng officials of the gymnasium were elected: President; Canon J. St. Leger Blakeney; chairman, tree Rev. S. E. Tuffs; vice-presidents, Mr. Dan Cusworth and Mr. Joe Jarrett; secretary, Mr. J. W. Oxspring; treasurer Mr. Donald Cusworth; instructor Mr. Donald Cusworth; assistant instructor, Mr. J. Baker; weights inspector, Mr. T. Hill; assistant, Mr. C. Jarrett; chairman of committee, Mr. A. Cusworth; committee Messrs S. Parr, J. Baker, T J. Utley, W. Harding and C. Jarrett.
The meeting decided to open a fund for providing uniforms in which to give displays.
It was reported that Charles Jarrett had that day been notified that he would be required to go London on March 18th for the “Britain’s Best Developed Man” contest at the Palladium Theatre.
The question of organising a party to accompany him was discussed and preliminaries were arranged.