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GYMNASTICS IN BARRY Gymnastics began in Barry in the late 1880's with the formation, at the West End of Barry, of the Barry German Gymnastic Club, later to drop the German part from its title. Classes were held at two venues - Windsor Road Church Schoolroom in Romilly Road, and for junior members, the Jubilee Hall in Park Crescent. At the outbreak of the First World War all training ceased, and it wasn't until after the war had ended that a number of former members got together and decided to restart training. A group was formed in Barry, met in the Parish hall, and was named All Saints Gymnastic Club. There were a number of sections which, in 1921, competed in Welsh Amateur Gymnastic Competitions. The club trainer was Mr A. Davies, and the Boys instructor was Mr W. Griffiths, later to become the trainer of the YMCA boys team. The Girls were trained by Miss W. Packer. In May of 1921 the senior team competed against Abertillery in the parish hall. Abertillery had two members who had competed in the Olympic games in Belgium, and the All Saints team performed quite well, but finally lost by 25 points.
A group of gymnasts from Cadoxton who had returned from active service, and wanted to train and form a gymnastic team in the area, looked around for suitable premises. By the end of 1919 they were offered accommodation at St. Aidan's Church in Main Street, Cadoxton. This building had previously been used as a theatre, and consequently the floor was sloping toward the stage, and needed to be levelled. By 1920 most of the floor had been levelled, and funds raised to enable gymnastics to start in Cadoxton. The Club was named St. Aidan's Gymnastic Club, and over the years of its existence produced many champions. Mr Buffin Sr (known to all as Bill) was for a great many years trainer and coach to the club. One of his sons, Ken, won the British and Welsh championships several times, and represented Britain in the 1948 Olympic Games in London, where he attained third place, and at Helsinki in 1952. Other names that readily spring to mind are W.J. Gimblette, known to all as Jimmy, who was assistant coach to Bill Buffin, and when Bill left the club to coach at Cardiff, took over coaching at the club. Junior coach for great many years was Edgar Sanderson. Frank Baldwin carried out sterling work behind the scenes as secretary, and Ernie Phillips as treasurer, without whom the club would have disappeared into obscurity. All training of members was done on a voluntary basis. In 1938 a team was selected to represent Wales at the Ling Festival in Sweden, and it included two members of the club, Fred Holder and Ron Powell. Another member of the club, Jack Stevens, was asked to accompany the team, not for his gymnastic prowess, but as the official Welsh team photographer. Over the years the club won the Welsh Gymnastic Championships, both team and individual, competed in the British Championships, sent members to represent Wales in the Festival of Britain in 1951, and to the Gymnastrada in Rotterdam in 1952. Members were also selected to represent Wales in Europe, and at International competitions. In the late 50's the church decided to close St. Aidan's Church and the club had to seek other accommodation. The headmaster of Cadoxton School, Mr D.J.P. Richards, who was a vice-president of the club, offered the use of school premises, which was readily accepted. Training re-commenced and by 1963 junior classes of over 100 were a common occurrence. Teams were entered for apparatus and vaulting and agility competitions all over South Wales, and competed with a great deal of success. By the 70's, owing to insurance problems, the club had to dispose of most of its apparatus, which it donated to other clubs in the area, and concentrated on vaulting and agility. This it did, bringing further honours to the club. Finally in the late 1980's the school was closed for remodelling, and the club was forced to disband, members joining other clubs in the area.
In 1918 the Barry Branch of the Legion of Honour was formed, and in 1921 it opened a Gymnastic club, to be known as the Trafalgar Ladies Gymnastic Club. Its headquarters was at Trafalgar Hall in Lombard Street, and its instructor was Sergeant Manning, late of the First Battalion. In 1922 it gave its first display, which consisted of marching, pyramids, skipping, and club swinging. Displays were later given at various venues around the town, such as cinemas, theatres, church halls and outdoors. These were greatly appreciated by the many male onlookers! A number of joint displays were given with St. Aidan's, and in the late 1930's the club amalgamated with St. Aidan's.
The YMCA Gymnastic Section was formed in 1920 in the former Alexander Hotel in Newlands Street, and its trainer and coach was Billy Griffiths. Over the years it entered many competitions, and had a fair amount of success. These competitions were for members of the "Y" and for the Association of Boy's Clubs. The club met up until the outbreak of the 39-45 war, when members who took the classes were called up for military service. By the late 50's, when St. Aidan's were unable to continue apparatus training, the YMCA under the direction of Joe Burrows began to flourish. A new hall was built alongside the old building and many former members of St. Aidan's joined the gymnastic section of the YMCA. The "Y" went from strength to strength, having a list of youngsters waiting to join. Eventually it was decided that a new building was needed, one with a purpose built gymnasium, after a few years the old building was sold and the "Y" moved to Court Road. The building was opened by HRH the Duchess of Kent in 1980 and has since become one of the leading gymnastic clubs in the Principality. The name of Buffin has become synonymous with gymnastics in Barry over the years and the YMCA owes much to the dedication of Colin Buffin, Linda Gee, and their band of helpers. For the training of both the male and female sections of the club, which has produced a great number of team and individual champions of which Barry can be justly proud.
©T.CLEMETT 2000
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