Harold Styan
Harold Styan was an English gymnast and physical culturist in the music halls in his youth, a physical training instructor and drill sergeant in the First World War, and a sports teacher and youth worker in Harrogate, 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. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire 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.Styan was born at 51 Nydd Vale Terrace, Harrogate, a terraced house facing the Harrogate railway line, and baptised at Christ Church, High Harrogate. 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.
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 in Swedish gymnastics. Thus by the age of 20 he was an army physical training instructor and drill sergeant, training one battalion after another. The Harrogate Herald reported: "He... received a testimonial from Captain Milnes of the RAMC for his treatment and massaging of the wounded".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. Ripley and District Horticultural and Agricultural Show historians wrote that, "In 1921 the Main Ring attraction was 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, Styan organised a gymnastic display by the same club. He was a gym master at various schools including Clifton House School, retiring from Grosvenor House School, Harrogate, in 1982 aged 87.