To the Editor of "The Wallasey News.'
Sir, - I feel very diffident about thrust-my undistinguished signature into your correspondence columns amongst such distinguished veterans as "Patriot," '' Enlightened Catholic," " Mother of Eight," etc., but I have just had my attention drawn to Mr. John Edwards's letter in your last week's issue under the heading " Keeping Fit in Wallasey," and the nasty jolt it gave me has also given me the necessary courage to essay the highly dangerous task of framing a reply.
I know Mr. Edwards very well indeed, and whilst he has never been accused of being a light-headed and light-hearted optimist on matters athletic, I never suspected that his views on the youth of the borough were quite so subterranean. In all the circumstances he has probably done the wisest thing in hanging out the said views in your correspondence columns for ventilation purposes.
I suppose it is all a matter of degree, and what strikes Mr. Edwards as a " long round of dissipation " might send me to sleep, but nevertheless I feel that I ought to point out to him that, though the local youths might be a sorry lot, they have neither the means nor the facilities for treading the broad and crooked way, and, furthermore, there are still a few old-fashioned, granite-faced parents lurking about in cul-de-sacs and other quiet spots who insist on taking an interest in the welfare of their offspring.
Turning to club matters, I cannot help thinking that Mr. Edwards has been peering through the wrong end of the telescope. I have been secretary of the Wallasey Athletic Club for more years than I care to look back on, and I have always felt rather pleased to be associated with such a well known and highly successful organisation. The club has had its financial reverses (what club has not?) but the treasurer's books at the present time make quite good holiday reading, and the record of team and individual successes in open competition lengthens year by year.
The following information will probably be of interest to Mr. Edwards if to no one else:-
(a) The Wallasey Band and Gala Committee has expressed itself as very well satisfied with the Gala sports meeting; the only criticism forthcoming was that there was not enough of it!
(b) J. S. K. Glover runs in Port Sunlight AC. colours because he is a second-claim member of that club, and because moths and Father Timo have combined to take heavy toll of his only set of Wallasey colours.
(c) Cricketers (though not, perhaps, the present club) occupied Harrison Park pavilion long before we took over the tenancy.
(d) The West Cheshire Golf Club has never been properly approached regarding the course difficulty; the members are good sportsmen, however; and I cannot imagine them placing obstacles in our way.
(e) Physical fitness is a hard-won prize; each year I enter the lists with renewed hope, and each year I retire, defeated, to my usual twelve minutes handicap and a mild state of corpulence.
I hope the foregoing remarks will clear up any misconceptions which may exist, and I also hope (most fervently) that Mr. Edwards will have sufficient respect for my grey hairs and failing energies to refrain from endeavouring to draw me into a prolongation of this correspondence.
Yours, etc.,
REGINALD G. HYDE,
Hon. Sec., Wallasey Athletic Club. 14 Cromer-drive, Wallasey.
August 4th.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/08/1937
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