A Monthly Publication

By John Smith

The name “Hunstanton St. Edmund” may have been changed in 1893 but the name and emblem of St. Edmund has remained inextricably linked with the town through its religious links with both the Protestant and Catholic Churches. However, the name of St. Edmund has also been used in the past for many other purposes.

              Around the turn of the 20^th Century there existed a St. Edmund Club which met in the Esplanade Hall which was situated on the North Promenade. This club held regular monthly social meetings with prominent local speakers, including the ever present local entrepreneur John Beeton, who in fact lectured on one occasion on the disgraceful fashions prevalent of the time when ‘A Glimpse of Stocking was indeed regarded as Something Shocking’. Many other topical interests were presented, much as on the lines of today’s Civic Society. This Club was open to all residents and obviously also attracted the youth of the town because on the 17^th of March 1902 a meeting was held to consider the possibility of forming an offshoot of the club, an athletic club which was to be called St. Edmund’s Harriers.  Mr. B. Wright was the elected president and Mr. G. Houghton was the captain, Mr. A. Forster sub-captain. Mr. T. Adcock was the secretary and treasurer with a committee of Messrs. A. Allen, A. Blomfield and F. Dewsbury. A code of rules was drawn up and adopted and the first run was arranged for the very next night, when it was recorded that there was a good number of competitors and some capital times were recorded.  Despite the haste in which the club was formed it prospered for several more years.

In 1901 Hunstanton Football Club had amongst its players a Mr. Henry Forster, who was the grandfather of John Searle, (the baker in York Avenue). Not only was Henry a good footballer he was also a locally renowned sprinter and was an inaugural member of the Harriers. Amazingly some pictures of Henry still survive and I am indebted to John Searle for the loan of these for this article.

 
Even before the formation of the Harriers, Henry was obviously establishing a reputation a sprinter, as on the 24^th December 1901 a 100 yards race was run on the recreation ground between two members of the football club. Word got round the town and a large number of interested spectators gathered to watch the race.

              A considerable amount of controversy had arisen as to which of the local men, a Mr. R. Lee and Henry Forster as to whom was the fastest sprinter. To decide the matter Mr. Charles Wales (Prop. Of the Railway Inn) offered prizes for the event. Mr. W. Winlove (the local businessman) acted as starter and Mr. G. Mallett as judge. Lee was first away, but as soon as Forster got into his stride he rapidly overhauled his opponent and won easily by four yards.

For his efforts Henry was presented with a breakfast cruet and the second prize was a pair of salts.

[At around this time it was recorded that Hunstanton also a grass track cycle track which was on the recreation ground. Has anyone got any more information on this or the Harriers?].