My record time in the 60 metre hurdles at my junior school having remained unbeaten for seven years in the 1970s, frankly I am disappointed that I am not included in our summer exhibition. To mark 2016’s exciting summer of sport, our archivist Jill Campbell has created a new display in Knebworth House celebrating the Lytton family’s sporting achievements – and very fascinating it is too.
I knew my great-uncle Antony was involved in the establishment of downhill ski racing as a sport and wrote an influential book on boxing; I knew his father, Victor, was a very fine ice skater, and it is a treat to see old 1920s films of him skating beautifully brought to light; I have not been allowed to forget that my father, David, holds the record as the eldest jouster in the country, lancing all five hoops in his final joust, aged 72… however I did not know that in 1908, my great-granduncle, Neville Lytton (1879-1951) won an Olympic bronze medal for Real Tennis. Not only that, but the future 3rd Earl of Lytton was Queen’s Club’s International Amateur Tennis Champion in 1911 and 1913 and runner up in 1910 and 1912.
Jill has found some wonderful images of all of the above, including this one of Neville and his 1910 challengers (that’s him on the left). I hope you have time over the summer to come see the exhibit. I promise there are no pictures of me in my spandex or my speedos – although, Jill, did you know I was also my junior school’s 1975 backstroke champion…
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com
Neville Lytton at Queen’s Club in 19010