OLYMPICS - help please

[grubheam]

I am looking for websire that shows the names of an althetes on the winner list.

Someone in my family says Hagar Ann Luker (now Parker) known as Annie - won a medal fpr swimming in around 1880s.

Any joy?

 

[GeoffE]

The first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896.

Putting "Annie Luker" swimming into Google produces a single "hit" on a site where you must register ... the extract is

"swimming performances of Miss Annie Luker. and her lady assistants healthy and whole-. some. There were also reminders of the ....

You can search Olympic results here http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/index_uk.asp

[jorose]

The Times shows various hits for a Miss Annie Luker who was a diver at the Royal Aquarium in Westminster - 1894-1901 period (the Royal Aquarium closed sometime soon after this - last night according to the google search Geoff mentions was 10 Jan 1903, and Annie was still there then), sometimes described as 'champion lady diver'.  However, women were not allowed to participate in 1896, and in 1900 only did so in croquet, golf, sailing, and tennis.  So if Annie Luker was a diving champion, it wasn't in the Olympics.

I don't see how this can be Hagar, though, as she was born 1870, married in 1890.  Although she may have kept her maiden name, she wouldn't have continued to be called 'Miss', I wouldn't think, and the dates for Annie's career suggest a younger woman. 

I do see that Hagar's father in 1881 was a swimming master, and that there was a younger sister, listed as Rosa A, b. Tunbridge - maybe she was 'Annie'?  Or maybe it was another relative of the family.  I note this Luker family are from Abingdon - there's an 1881 census entry for Alfred Luker, 33, b. Abingdon, bath attendant, Amelia, his wife, and children John B, Ann and Rose.  In 1901 John B is a theatre attendant and Rose is a music hall artist, I can't spot Ann.

[GeoffE]

I do see that Hagar's father in 1881 was a swimming master,

Even better in 1871 - Professor of Swimming!    Daughter Haghar aged 1, born Abingdon

1901 ... was her husband the Fred PARKER from Woodford who had become a Tram Driver and was now SINGLE?

[GeoffE]

Hidden away in this http://193.39.212.223/report.asp?compid=48191

Professor F. E. Beckwith, of the Royal Aquarium, receives permission to give an exhibition of swimming at the Cardiff Baths.

I happened to notice that Prof Beckwith was next door neighbour to Hagar PARKER in 1891.

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

This looks like Annie in 1901, the birthplaces are transcribed as Abington and Pembridge Wells 


1901  RG13/186  f.124  p.36  Islington
106 Englefield Rd

Annie PARKER  Head  M*  30  Swimming Instructor  Berks Abingdon
May WATERS   Niece        10                                Kent Tunbridge Wells

*on the image the M has a circle round it but no others do

Regards
Daisy

[Garethboxing]

Perhaps the circle round the M is a query by the enumerator's boss when he found a woman as head of the household, but described as 'married' rather than 'widow'. Maybe he was wondering where her husband was 

   Gareth

[GeoffE]

Maybe he was wondering where her husband was 

Meanwhile, husband was in Bromley, denying that she ever existed 

[Nick Carver]

This is an interesting thread. One of my friends had a great uncle who was an official in the British Cycling federation and family legend says that during the 1908 Olympics in London, when marathon runners were accompanied by a cyclist (it not being thought possible to run 26 miles), that great uncle was the cyclist who accompanied Dorando Pietri, the Italian who crossed the line first, but who was disqualified for receiving assistance. My friend has been totally unable to prove or disprove this theory. In the family there is a medal commemorating something from that era, but they have no idea what it is. That sounds like quite a fascinating brick wall to pursue.