Cambridge’s role in the sporting revolution that went global
Cambridge’s role in the sporting revolution that went global
Across the 19th century it was students (given the largely disapproving efforts of the University) who created the rules of football (today’s most popular sport in the world, by far), the rules of boxing, and sporting philosophies such as Muscular Christianity (that for the first time saw moral and religious value in sports).
These achievements and others had ‘extraordinary global consequences: political, cultural, economic, aesthetic, emotional and spiritual’, so who were the drivers of this revolution, was it only Gown, and where did they play?
Speaker
Nigel Fenner (Downing 1981)
Nigel Fenner matriculated in 1981 at Downing College, training first as a teacher then achieving both an MSc in Clinical Medicine, and a football Blue. His career was mostly in education with young offenders, adults with disabilities and school 'refusers'. In retirement he researched the life story of his relative Frank Fenner, a local tobacconist who, across the middle of the 20th century, did much more than found Fenner's Cricket Ground, resulting in the publication of 'Cambridge Sport: in Fenner's Hands', published in 2023, and the provision of sports related walking tours. He has lived locally for over 40 years with his children and grand-children all nearby - a source of great joy and happiness.
Location
Contact
The walk is about 1.5 miles long spread over 90 minutes, please check the weather forecast and arrive suitably prepared.
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