It is remarkable what some people have squirreled away in their garages or sheds. Malcolm Davis, of Newport, Shropshire, recently brought to the Bugle offices this pair of 100-year-old school sports certificates that he has kept in his garage for many a year. And thank goodness he has, because, protected from sunlight and still in their original frames, their colours are as bright and unfaded as when they were new.
The certificates were awarded at the Wall Heath school sports, the first in 1912 to Kathleen Gentle for winning the Over 11 girls’ flat race, and the second in 1913 to her sister Carrie Gentle for third place in the Under 11 girls’ flat race.
Malcolm’s family have had the certificates for years and he was puzzled as to how they came by them, as he was unaware of a connection to the Gentle family. He then did a little internet research and found that there was an indeed a family relationship.
Malcolm found Kathleen Gentle on the 1901 census returns, aged less than 12 months, living in Albion Street, Wall Heath, with her father John (aged 36), mother Mary Ann (28) and brothers John (4), Edward (2) and Thomas (1).
By the 1911 census the family circumstances had changed.
John Gentle had evidently passed away as Mary Ann had remarried to Thomas Jones and the family were now living around the corner from Albion Street in Victoria Street. Kathleen was not listed as being with the family on the day the census was taken, so was possibly staying with relatives at the time. The family are listed as Thomas Jones (29), Mary Ann Jones (39), John Bain Gentle (14), Edward William Gentle (12), Winifred Carrie Gentle (7), Harold Jones (4) and Edith May Jones (1).
It is half-sister Edith May Jones who provides the link between Malcolm Davis and Kathleen and Carrie Gentle.
She married William James Nichols who was the brother of Malcolm’s mother Mary.
This is how he believes the certificates came into his family’s possession.
The 1913 certificate was printed by E.J. Arnold and Son, Leeds, founded in 1863 and still in business today as NES Arnold. This certificate is decorated with the flags and arms of the British Isles.
The 1912 certificate was published by the Educational Supply Association, London, which supplied everything from schoolbooks to furniture and laboratory equipment. It features a picture of King Alfred, one of England’s most scholarly monarchs, and a design incorporating the national symbols of roses, thistles and shamrocks with royal coats of arms through the ages, each year relating to the accession of a particular monarch, as follows: William I (1066), Henry II (1154), Henry V (1413), James I (1603), William and Mary (1689), George I (1714) and Victoria (1837).
The 1913 certificate was printed by E.J. Arnold and Son, Leeds, founded in 1863 and still in business today as NES Arnold. This certificate is decorated with the flags and arms of the British Isles.
Malcolm wonders if there are any descendents of Kathleen or Carrie Gentle who would claim these certificates as he would be happy for them to be returned to the family 100 years after they were first presented.
