My Own Olympic Hero!

1. My Own Olympic Hero! by Ray Hulley

2. John HulleyBorn 19th February 1832 – Died 6th January 1875

3. Journal of Olympic HistoryWinter 2001

4. John Hulley – information from Don Anthony • Born in Liverpool in 1832 • Taught skills of gymnastics by Louis Huguenin • Appointed first director of the Liverpool Gymnasium in 1865 • Joined with Brookes and Ravenstein to form the National Olympian Association in 1865 • Died in 1875

5. John Hulley – His ancestors Jasper Hulley • 1697 – 1778 • | • | • James Hulley(+ 8 others) • 1750 – 1799 • Surgeon • | • | • Thomas Boydell Hulley(+ 3 others) • 1784 - 1839 • Surgeon • | • | • John Nevitt Hulley Robert Churchman Hulley James Ridley Hulley Thomas Hulley • 1803 – 1840 1809 - 1862 1818 - 1837 1820 - 1857 • Surgeon Surgeon/Physician Chemist & Druggist Surgeon Apprentice • | • | • JOHN HULLEY • 1832 - 1875 • Gymnasiarch

6. 1841 census Gloucester Street Liverpool

7. Collegiate Institute Liverpoolwhere John Hulley studied 1844-1850

8. 1851 census entryBrookhouse Farm Huyton

9. 1861 census entryWoolfall Hall Huyton

10. Theatre-Royal Liverpoollocation of a Physical Display by the Liverpool Athletic Club in 1861

11. John Hulley – quote from his address December 1861 “We should not be contented with a low standard of physical elevation.  We should make it our religious aim, that every one of us, man, woman, and child, should possess a large, powerful frame, whose blooming health shall set consumption and other diseases of debility, at deliverance.   Each man and woman should take as much pride, in the cultivation of the bodily as of their mental faculties ………”

12. Bold Street Liverpool First location of the Liverpool Athletic Club in 1862

13. The Liverpool Athletic Club Motto of the L.A.C Mens Sana in Corpore Sano A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body

14. Charles P. Melly – President of the Liverpool Athletic Club

15. Grand Olympic Festivals 1862 Sat 14 June at the Mount Vernon Parade-ground, Liverpool Mr Melly - They were indebted for it to Mr John Hulley, the excellent honorary secretary of the club, and it was entirely owing to his indefatigable and praiseworthy exertions that the festival had been brought to such a successful and highly satisfactory issue. - Liverpool Mercury 16 June 1862 1863 Sat 13 June at the Mount Vernon Parade-ground, Liverpool Mr Hulley, the indefatigable honorary secretary, and the committee, had used every excursion to render the affair a complete success, and the thousands who were present on Saturday, must admit that this second Olympic Festival was highly successful in every respect. • - Liverpool Mercury 15 June 1863

16. Break-up of Gymnasium partnership Newspaper announcement - December 1863 ************ Rotunda, gymnasium, Bold-Street No annual subscriptions can be received for the year 1864 Mr Hulley will cease to have any share in the Direction of the Establishment, from the 31st instant.

17. The Liverpool Gymnasium in Myrtle Street New company formed – Mr C. P. Melly is the prime mover in it; The Mayor is the President; Mr Hulley, who is second to no man in Europe as a practical and thoroughly skilled gymnastic preceptor, is the Manager. LiverpoolMercury 19 March 1864

18. Grand Olympic Festival 1864 Sat 9 July at the Zoological Gardens, Liverpool Mr Hulley, vice-president of the Athletic Society, director of the festival, worked with his usual energy to make everything go off smoothly. The Athletic Society of Great Britain Liverpool has the merit of being amongst the foremost in this salutary movement, and that the society of which Mr. Hulley may feel proud of being the founder holds a position of second to none in the kingdom. Liverpool Mercury 11 July 1864

19. The Liverpool Gymnasium in Myrtle Street Foundation stone laid on 18 July 1864 By the Mayor of Liverpool

20. The Liverpool Gymnasium in Myrtle Street View towards the front door

21. The Liverpool Gymnasium in Myrtle Street View from the front door

22. Grand Olympic Festivals 1865 Sat 22 July at the Croquet Ground Llandudno This included a display of illuminated boats in the bay followed by dancing on the sands. The organiser of the games, Mr Hulley, of Liverpool, spared neither personal exertion, time, nor trouble, to perfect his arrangements. - North Wales Chronicle 29 Jul 1865 1866 Sat 23 July at the Croquet Ground Llandudno The Athletic Society of Great Britain, established in 1860, had arranged to hold its first meeting called an Olympic Festival, at Llandudno on this occasion. The proceedings, which included a regatta, with a yacht- race from Liverpool, a variety of gymnastic performances, and a sort of Venetian carnival to crown the festivities, took place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday last week. All passed off with entire success. - The Illustrated London News 7 Jul 1866

23. NATIONAL OLYMPIC FESTIVAL • 1866 Sat 31 July at the River Thames at Teddington and 1 Aug at the Crystal Palace for other events John Hulley appeared at the latter venue in costume to represent the East.

24. SIXTH ANNUAL OLYMPIC FESTIVAL 1867 Friday and Saturday 28 and 29 June in the Sheil Park Athletic GroundsLiverpool Organised by THE ATHLETIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN There were over 220 entries and competitors came from Paris, Marseilles, London, a large contingent came from Manchester, and most of the Northern counties were represented

25. Publication of Book • In 1867 "A Handbook of Gymnastics and • Reference," written by John Hulley and • Mr. E.G. Ravenstein was published • (copy still available at the British Library)

26. Liverpool – the best Gymnasium in the World! It is very satisfactory indeed to the inhabitants of Liverpool, to be informed by an American – of all the people in the world - that they have in their town the most complete gymnasium which has yet been built, and Mr Hulley, the gymnasiarch, will no doubt be as much pleased as his pupils with the words of Mr Avon C. Burnham, the proprietor of a gymnasium in Brookland, North America, who is at present in town, and has wandered over England and the continent on an errand of examination into the arrangements of various popular gymnasia in France, Germany, Belgium and other places. Liverpool Mercury 21 Jul 1868

27. The Introduction by John Hulley of the Velocipide to Liverpool in January 1869

28. The On-Off-On Wedding! Toxteth Unitarian Chapel

29. The On-Off-On Wedding! The Date - 15 July 1869 The Groom - John Hulley the Liverpool Gymnasiarch The Bride – Georgina Bolton daughter of a wealthy Liverpool merchant and grand-daughter of a former Mayor of Liverpool

30. 1871 census91 Grove Street Liverpool

31. DeathNotice Liverpool Mercury – 8 Jan 1875 Deaths HULLEY – Jan.6, at 91 Grove-street, aged 42, John Hulley, Esq.

32. Death certificate of John Hulley Cause of Death – Emphysema of Lungs, Bronchitis

33. Tribute to John Hulley SOME OLD LIVERPUDLIANS [by One of Them] No. 11 - JOHN HULLEY, GYMNASIARCH John Hulley, professor of gymnastics and Gymnasiarch, is still a pleasant memory in this native city. Hulley was born with a mission, which he fulfilled; and, take him for all and all, we may never see his like again.

34. Smithdown Road cemetery

35. Found - John Hulley’s grave

36. The renovated grave

38. Future Plans • To ensure that the memory of John Hulley is enshrined in British Olympic history; • To create a lasting sporting memorial in his name; • To have his achievements listed in the Dictionary of National Biography.

39. John Hulley Website Please visit www.johnhulley-olympics.co.uk to discover the full story of his life