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Origins of Cambridge Harriers

Why Cambridge? One of the first questions asked concerns the name. There is a reason for most things and, in this case, a very simple one.

From the 1870's both Oxford and Cambridge University College's began to develop 'settlements' in South London where graduates and undergraduates could live and work among the poor, devoting their time to philanthropic, educational and religious activities within the local community.

By 1884 the first settlement had been established in Walworth by St. John's College, Cambridge and soon after, in June 1885 the Clare College Mission was established within the ancient parish of St. Mary Rotherhithe.

The second Missioner was the Rev. A. Amos, a rugby blue, who took charge in 1889. He established a vigorous movement to break through the apathy to the church in the district and helped form a number of clubs and other organisations for men and boys. One of the clubs connected with the church was a cricket club named Clare College Cricket Club.

This club had a surplus of members who coundn't make the team, so a number decided to form a new club. They wanted to associate this club with the church but the name was already taken, so eventually 'Cambridge Cricket Club' was chosen. The new club became successful and popular but some members wanted the sports activities to continue into the winter months, so at the instigation of Messrs Sayers and Russell, the inagural meeting of what became Cambridge Harriers was held on 18th July 1890, with seven persons attending.

The connection with the cricket club continued for a while. Eventually the cricket club faded out, but not Cambridge Harriers and although there have been several proposals over the years to adopt a more local name, these have always been defeated.

The opening run was held on 6th October 1890 from the Tranquil Restaurant (56 Tranquil Vale) Blackheath and fifteen members turned out. Encouraged by their initial success the club decided to promote a Sports Meeting in Southwark Park on 28th March 1891 and an enormous crowd turned up to see the free show. Unfortunately, they became too enthusiastic and 'roughs' caused considerable damage, so that the meeting had to be abandoned at considerable financial loss and near-disaster for the club.

As far as has been established to date there is no direct connection with either Clare College or Cambridge University in the founding of Cambridge Harriers. The Clare College Library records contain many references to the Rev. Amos but none to the club.
 
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 Cambridge Harriers - Past Presidents

J. Cumming Macdonna Esq. 1896-98
T. J.Dewar Esq. 1898-02
J. Lamb Esq. 1902-09
B. Chase Esq. 1909-59
A. W. Spalding Esq. 1959-61
E. A. Holland Esq, 1961-62
H. F. Rainbird Esq, 1962-63
H. C. Rogers Esq. 1963-64 & 1978-79
K. J. Exeter Esq. 1964-65
R. G. Mehew Esq. 1965-66
A. J. Slack Esq. 1966-67
W. F. Trend Esq. 1967-68
A. A. Smith Esq. 1968-69
A. D. Ducker Esq. 1969-70
D. G. Dellar Esq. 1970-71
H. W. Jones Esq. 1971-72
P. D. Brown Esq. 1972-73
P. W. Davies Esq. 1973-74
K. A. W. Harland Esq. 1974-75
D. E. Maynard Esq. 1975-76 & 1998-99
Mrs. H. M. Rider 1976-77
D. J. Hadler Esq. 1977-78
B. E. Boulton Esq. 1979-80
M. Jordan Esq. 1980-81
J. P. C. Slack Esq. 1981-82
W. Dixon Esq. 1982-83
L. C. Taylor Esq. 1983-84
W. T. Meyer Esq. 1984-85
M. Paul Esq. 1985-86
E. C. Nash Esq. 1986-87 & 1990-91
A. E. Leggatt Esq. 1987-88
M. C. Payne Esq. 1988-89
D. P. Coffey Esq. 1989-90
S. J. M. Percy Esq. 1991-92
Mrs. P. A. Davidson 1992-93
M. J. Bond Esq. 1993-94
B. I. Ferguson Esq. 1994-95
I. P. McCombie Esq. 1995-96
M. G. Ellsmore Esq. 1996-97
G. A. B. Grant Esq. 1997-98
G. M. Spencer Esq. 1999-2000
Miss M. Neufville 2000-01
R. J. Daniel Esq. 2001-02
N. P. Carmody Esq. 2002-03
Mrs. C Bond 2003-04
M. S. S. Newell Esq. 2004-05
A. G. Knight Esq. 2005-06
D. F. Thomas Esq. 2006-07
Mrs. M M L Hadler 2007-08
Keith Penny 2008-09

Cambridge Harriers -

Elected Life Members
* Denotes “deceased”

A. W. Spalding * 1925
S. S. Jones * 1925
B. Chase * 1926
J. A. Cottrell * 1926
W. A. Fricker * 1927
A. A. Post * 1927
G. T-A. Wescott * 1928
Mrs. I. K. Thorpe (Nee Walker) * 1929
A. W. Hurst * 1933
E. A. Holland * 1935
R. A. West * 1948
H. C. Rogers * 1948
J. Mahoney * 1953
A. J. Slack * 1956
P. G. Kirk * 1961
S. G. Wood * 1961
W. F. Trend 1962
J. F. Newson * 1963
J. Prior * 1964
Mrs. P. A. Davidson (Nee Kippax)1965
K. J. Exeter * 1966
G. A. H. Taylor 1967
C. Warner * 1968
Mrs. J. F. Allison (Nee Page) 1969
H. F. Rainbird * 1972
D. J. Hadler 1972
Miss M. Neufville 1973
Mrs. M. T. Baldwin (Nee McSherry)1973
Mrs. E. A. Laban (Nee Barnes) 1977
B. J. Watson 1977
F. W. Barrett * 1977
K. W. Smith * 1979
Miss A. Littlewood 1981
R. Holman * 1981
D. E. Maynard 1982
I. P. McCombie 1985
K. A. W. Harland 1986
E. C. Nash 1987
M. Paul 1987
S. Backley 1988
P. Blagg 1988
B. E. Boulton 1989
D. G. Dellar 1989
H. W. Jones * 1989
M. C. Payne 1994
B. G. Nicholson 1996
J. F. Godbeer 1999
D. H. Holden 1999
A. E. Leggatt * 2000
J. Backley 2002
Mrs. C. Bond 2002
C. J. Melluish 2002
M. J. Bond 2004
N. P. Carmody 2004
C. M. H. Chattaway 2006