An antique dealer kindly let me have a swimming medal which was awarded for a race which took place in the Serpentine in 1896.
The front of the medal is engraved with "Leander Medal" to commemorate an open water swimming race which was instituted in 1880. The reverse side of the medal calls it the Humphery Memorial Medal.
The reverse side of the medal also has a lot of detailed engraving explaining the reason for the race and the name of the medal winner. An E. Pike won the second place medal 19th August 1896.
The medal was donated "as a token of affection for their late father" by the Misses C&J Humphery.
It would be appreciated if any classics scholars could translate the phrase "Perge Ita Utfit"
Thanks to Sanda for the medal. Attached are the photos of the Leander swimming medal.
TEXT ON FRONT OF MEDAL:
----------------------
PERGE ITA UTFIT
LEANDER
MEDAL
TEXT ON REVERSE SIDE OF MEDAL:
-----------------------------
Leander medal
THE HUMPHERY MEMORIAL MEDAL
Instituted in 1880
By the Misses C&J Humphery
As a token of affection for their late father
Hon Teacher of Swimming to the Serpentine Club
to be swum for by all Bathers Annually
IN THE SERPENTINE
won by
E. PIKE
2nd prize
19th August 1896
And now the speculation:
The curious question is who were the Humphery family?
A cursory search for Humphery in the 1880 edition of the London Gazette reports as follows:
GEORGE FRANCIS HUMPHERY, Deceased.
Pursuant to the Act of Parliament 22nd and 23rd Vic, cap. 35, intituled " An Act to further amend the Law of
Property, and to relieve Trustees."
TVTOTICE is hereby given, that the creditors and all other J. N persons having claims or demands upon or affecting the estate of George Francis Humphery, late of Hay's Wharf, Tooley-street, Southwark, and of Tintern, Clapham Common, both in the county of Surrey, Esq., deceased (who died on the 20th day of March, 1880, and whose will was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of Her Majesty's
High Court of Justice on the 10th day of April, 1880, by Icabella Humphery, of Tintern, Clapham Common aforesaid, Widow, and James Arthur Humphery, of Hay's Wharf aforesaid, Esq., the executrix and executor named in the said will), are hereby required to send the particulars of such debts, claims, and demands to us, the undersigned, ihe Solicitors to the said executrix and executor, on or before the 15th day of October next, after which day the said executrix and executor will proceed to distribute the assets of the said
deceased among the parties entitled thereto, having regard only to the debts, claims, and demands of which they shall then have had notice ; and the said executrix and executor will not be liable for the assets so distributed, or any part thereof, to any person or persons of whose debt, claim, or demand they shall not then have had noiice.—Dated this
20th day of August, 18SO.
DRUCE, SONS, and JACKSON, 10, Billitersquare,
London, E.G., Solicitors for the said Executrix
and Executor.
JohnTierneyswim AT live DOT com
