Harold Styan (4 March 1895 – 30 October 1982) was an English

gymnast Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, sh ...

and physical culturist in the

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

s in his youth, a

physical training instructor Physical training instructor (PTI) is a term used primarily in the British Armed Forces and British police, as well as some other Commonwealth countries, for an instructor in physical fitness. United Kingdom In the British Army, specialist Physi ...

and

drill sergeant A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors. Australia Aust ...

in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and a sports teacher and

youth worker Youth work is a community support activity aimed at older children and adolescents. Depending upon the culture and the community, different services and institutions may exist for this purpose. In general, it provides an environment where young pe ...

Harrogate Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and civil parish in the North Yorkshire District, district and North Yorkshire, county of North Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist de ...

, Yorkshire, for the rest of his life. Styan is remembered for running Harrogate Boys' Club and for his work as sports teacher at various Harrogate schools, including

Clifton House School Clifton House School was a Private schools in the United Kingdom, private boys' preparatory school (United Kingdom), preparatory school which operated in Harrogate, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, between 1898 and 1968. It was founded in C ...

. He was appointed

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE) in 1972 for his services to youth, and a charity and youth club were named after him.

Background

Styan was born into a Harrogate family which had moved south from the North Riding of Yorkshire. His grandfather was Francis Styan, a butcher, and his paternal grandmother was Mary Styan née Green. Harold Styan was the tenth child of Harrogate plumber and housepainter Alfred Styan. His mother was Elizabeth née Ward, daughter of gardener John Ward. Alfred and Elizabeth married in 1878 at

St Peter's Church, Harrogate St Peter's Church, Harrogate is a parish church in the Church of England located in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building. History The church was formed out of the parish of Christ Church, High Harrogate. A s ...

. Styan was born at 51 Nydd Vale Terrace, Harrogate, a

terraced house A terrace, terraced house ( UK), or townhouse ( US) is a type of medium-density housing which first started in 16th century Europe with a row of joined houses sharing side walls. In the United States and Canada these are sometimes known as row ...

facing the Harrogate railway line, and baptised at

Christ Church, High Harrogate Christ Church, High Harrogate is a parish church in the Church of England located in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It was the first church building to be built in Harrogate and is today home to a thriving congregation and – along with ...

. In 1921, Styan was unmarried, living with his widowed mother and his brother Harry at 9 Providence Terrace, Harrogate, and working on his own account at various addresses. In 1923, he married May Waggott in Knaresborough. They had one daughter, Diana Joan. Styan died on 30 October 1982 at 63 West End Avenue, Harrogate, where he had lived for much of his life. 51 Nydd Vale Terrace Harrogate (9a).jpg, Styan's working-class, soot-stained, end-of-terrace birthplace 63 West End Avenue, Harrogate (1a).JPG, A middle-class house, Styan's home of some decades

Career

At age 13 Styan started his athletic training. He was employed as a page boy at Harrogate's Grand Opera House at the same time, and made his stage debut as a gymnast at 16. He toured music halls, first in Harrogate then country-wide, including London, with Mademoiselle La Dores' troupe.

First World War

Styan was a physical training instructor during the First World War. He enlisted in 1914 in the 1st West Yorks, and his physical skills earned him promotion; he was trained at

Aldershot Aldershot ( ) is a town in the Rushmoor district, Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme north-east corner of the county, south-west of London. The town has a population of 37,131, while the Farnborough/Aldershot built-up are ...

Swedish gymnastics The Battle of the Systems was a controversy over the most effective system of exercise and calisthenics that spanned from the 1830s to the early 1920s,physical training instructor Physical training instructor (PTI) is a term used primarily in the British Armed Forces and British police, as well as some other Commonwealth countries, for an instructor in physical fitness. United Kingdom In the British Army, specialist Physi ...

and

, training one battalion after another. The ''Harrogate Herald'' reported: "He ... received a testimonial from Captain Milnes of the

RAMC The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) was a specialist corps in the British Army which provided medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. On 15 November 2024, the corps was amalgamated with the Royal Army De ...

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Training, teaching, coaching, and youth work

In 1921 Styan was running a school of gymnastics in the Harrogate area, including classes for men and women at the Belvedere

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches w ...

. Ripley and District Horticultural and Agricultural Show historians wrote that, "In 1921 the Main Ring attraction Ripley Show">Ripley,_North_Yorkshire.html" ;"title="t the Ripley, North Yorkshire">Ripley Showwas a display by Harold Styan's School of Gymnastics". In 1926 he was presented with "a memento of his work in training the Claro division tug-of-war team to win numerous Yorkshire competitions", according to ''The Leeds Mercury''. In 1942 he was refereeing at a boxing match in Harrogate. By April 1946 he had founded, and was running, the Harrogate Boys' Club in New Park, where he was often visited by former members, now in the military, who came to see their "popular leader", according to the ''Harrogate Herald''. In 1947, for the benefit of the

RAF Benevolent Fund The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fundis the Royal Air Force's leading welfare charity. It supports current and former members of the RAF, their partners and families, providing practical, emotional and financial support, whenever it is needed. The F ...

, Styan organised a gymnastic display by the same club. He was a gym master at various schools including

, retiring from Grosvenor House School, Harrogate, in 1982 aged 87.

Reminiscences of Styan

Former Clifton House School pupil David Hitchen remembered Styan for, "endless exercises and jumps!! and the amount of snuff he used to take to clear his throat!". Another pupil from the same school,

Jack Ogden John Mahlon Ogden (November 5, 1897 – November 9, 1977) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played five seasons in the majors, between and , for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, and St. Louis Browns. He played several seas ...

, later related a tale that, "well into his old age

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was attacked by two yobs on the Stray and laid both of them out flat". Clifton House School 1910 (1c).jpg, Clifton House School, where Styan taught Styan Youth Club (1a).jpg, Styan Boys' Club

Awards and recognition

Styan was appointed

(OBE) in 1972 for services to youth in Harrogate. His name was given to the Harold Styan Charity for Youth (HSCY), registered in 1964 and based in Harrogate, also the Harold Styan Football Club, the Jennyfield Styan Community Centre, and a youth club. The Harold Styan Boys' Club was in existence until at least 1962. As of 2024 the HSCY was still in existence.

Notes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Styan, Harold 1895 births 1982 deaths 20th-century English educators British Army personnel of World War I British music hall performers English male artistic gymnasts Entertainers from Harrogate Officers of the Order of the British Empire Royal Army Medical Corps officers Schoolteachers from Yorkshire West Yorkshire Regiment soldiers