Ivy Irene Lowman (1898 - 1991)

Born 25 Nov 1898 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died Sep 1991 at age 92 in Worthing, Sussex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Ivy Irene Lowman was born in 1898. She is the daughter of William Lowman and Edith Locke.

She passed away in 1991.

"A Born Leader. I was struck with the excellent manner in which Miss Ivy Lowman, of the London Olympiades, conducted their annual general meeting on Saturday. She has a clear voice, charming manner and a strong personality, and would have made a good M.P. if the fates had not decided to turn her into a school-teacher – and an athlete. When I left, several Olympiades were improving the shining hour by practising on the parallel bars and hanging head downwards on the ropes. Olympiades’ New Centre. I hear that a new Olympiades centre has been opened at Edmonton for the benefit of North London members, with a training ground at the Harvey Barras Track. Girls can practise on Mondays and Thursdays, while there is a gymnasium class at St Peter’s Hall, Bounces-road, Edmonton on Thursdays, under the direction of Miss Lowman. – Reflector." ^[1]

Academic career

Ivy studied at Homerton College Cambridge [1] between 1916-1918 and worked as a teacher.

Sporting career

In addition to her job as a teacher, Ivy was a pioneering sport's woman. Ivy was a member of the London Olympiades Athletic Club (LOAC) formed in 1921.

Between 1922-1924 she participated in and won medals at the first international women's athletics events representing the United Kingdom (also known at the time as Great Britain).

"Women’s Sport becomes International. In March 1921, Alice Milliat organised a multi-national athletics competition in Monte Carlo. Five nations took part – France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. There were ten track and field events, and several other sports. Seven months later she organised a match between ‘unofficial’ teams from France and Great Britain, and on the following day the Federation Sportive Feminine Internationale (FSFI) was formed with Alice Milliat at its head. Six countries – Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Great Britain, Spain and the USA were the inaugural members. They were to govern women’s athletics internationally until 1936. After being rejected by the IOC, the FSFI organised the first women’s Olympic Games in Paris in August 1922. Five nations took part. Czechoslovakia, France, Great Britain, Switzerland ant the USA. The games attracted a crowd of 20,000 for the final session. The future of women’s international athletics now seemed secure. In 1922 and 1923 the second and third Monte Carlo Games were successfully held."^[2]

April 1922 Women's Olympiad Medals. This athletic event held at Monaco in the South of France was also known in French as the "Deuxiéme Meeting International d'Éducation Physique Féminine". Ivy won the following medals in 1922:

• 250-metre - Silver
• 4 x 75 m relay Team England - Silver
• 4 x 175 m relay Team England - Gold
• High jump - Bronze
• Pentathlon - Gold

August 1922 Women's World Games Medal. Also referred to as Les Jeux Olympiques Féminins or Women’s Olympic Games. Held at Paris. Medal won:

• High jump - Bronze

April 1923 Women's Olympiad Medals. The 1923 Olympiad was the fourth international event in women's sports, the tournament was held at Monte Carlo. Ivy won the following medals in 1923:

• 60 metre - Silver
• Hurdles 65 metre - Gold
• High jump - Gold
• Pentathlon - Silver

August 1923 Women's Amateur Athletic Association Championships Medal. The first national track and field championships for women in the UK. Medal won:

• High jump - Silver

August 1924 Women's Olympiad Medal. The first international competition for women in track and field held in the United Kingdom. The tournament took place in London. Medal won:

• High jump - Bronze

Sources

1. ↑ Newspapers.com: Daily Mirror, 15 Jan 1929, Tue, Page 21. Latest Sporting Gossip. https://www.newspapers.com/image/789773088
2. ↑ Athlos Athletics Archive website www.athletics-archive.com/historyofathletics/womeninathleticsii/default.htm

• Birth. "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2FH3-BNL : 1 October 2014), Ivy Irene Lowman, 1899; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Edmonton, Middlesex, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
• Death. "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZC-M8HV : 4 September 2014), Ivy Lowman, Sep 1991; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death Registration, Worthing, Sussex, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
• UK, University of London Student Records, 1836-1945 (ancestry.com). Name: Ivy I Lowman, Gender: Female, Record Type: Student List, Graduation Date: 1918, Graduation Place: London, England. B.A. 18.
• London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 (ancestry.com). In 1925 Edith Lowman, Edith Jane Lowman, Ivy Irene Lowman, William Lowman listed as living at 79 Fore Street, Edmonton. | In 1930 Edith Jane Lowman, Ivy Irene Lowman, Violet Ernestine Lowman and William J Lowman listed as living at 39 Derwent Road, Wood Green. | In 1939 Edith Jane Lowman, Ivy Irene Lowman, Violet Ernestine Lowman and William Lowman listed as living at 31 Minchenden Crescent, Southgate.| In 1946 Edith J Lowman, Ivy I Lowman, Violet E Lowman listed as living at 31 Minchenden Crescent, Southgate. | In 1962 Ivy I Lowman, Violet E Lowman listed as living at 31 Minchenden Crescent, Southgate.
• 1939 England and Wales Register (ancestry.com). Name: Ivy I Lowman, Gender: Female, Marital status: Single, Birth Date: 25 Nov 1898, Residence Year: 1939, Address: 1, Residence Place: Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, Occupation: School Mistress, Line Number: 32, Schedule Number: 229, Sub Schedule Number: 3, Enumeration District: TWHA, Borough: Lowestoft, Registration District: 218-2, Household Members: Mary L Stair, Clarice Clarkson, Ivy I Lowman. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.au/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/TNA_R39_6619_6619D_017
• “Athletics of To-day for Women”, Publisher: Frederick Warne & Co., Ltd. London, 1930. http://www.athletics-archive.com/books/athleticsoftodayforwomen.htm
  • Extract from page 35, Chapter Three: England’s Triumphant Start, listing Ivy Lowman’s 1922 results: “250 metres: 1. Lines (G.B.), 39 secs; 2. Lowman (G.B.); 3. Beaunz (F.). High Jump: 1. Bracquemond (F.) and Hatt (G.B.) tied, 4 ft 6 ins; 3. Kuzel (F.), Depauw (Bel.), and Lowman (G.B.) tied. Pentathlon – High Jump: 1. Lowman (G.B.), Birchenough (G.B.), and Hatt (G.B.), 4 ft 3 1/5 ins. Pentathlon – 300 metres: 1. Lowman (G.B.) 47 1/5 secs. Pentathlon – 60 metres: 1. Lowman (G.B.), 8 4/5 secs. Total Points: 1. Lowman (G.B.), 20 pts; 2. Hatt (G.B.), 21 pts; 3. G. Laloz (F.), 25 pts. 800 Metres Relay (4 x 200): 1. Great Britain (Callebout, Lowman, Lines, Cast); 2. French Gymnastics Sports Club; 3, French Sports Club.” http://books.athlos.co.uk/Athletics%20of%20To-Day%20for%20Women/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#59 | Further mention Of Ivy Lowman on pages 38, 39, 40 http://books.athlos.co.uk/Athletics%20of%20To-Day%20for%20Women/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#62
  • Extract from pages 41-42, Chapter Three: England’s Triumphant Start. "Third Women’s International Meeting, Monte Carlo, 1923. The season opened with the Third Women’s International Meeting at Monte Carlo. This time it was Miss Lowman, of the British team, who showed the most exceptional form. Of the total awards Britain headed the list with 7 victories […]” Ivy Lowman’s 1923 results: 60 Metres: 1. Callebout (G.B.), 7 9/10 secs; 2. Lowman (G.B.), 3. Gagneux (F.); Sramkova (Cz-S.); 5. Prost (F.). High Jump: 1. Lowman (G.B.), 4 ft 10 ins; 2. Van Truyen (Bel.), 4 ft 8 7/19 ins; 3. Eliott-Lynn (G.B.), 4 ft 7 1/19 ins; 4. Banzi (It.), 4 ft 6 ins; 5. Stone (G.B.). 65 Metres Hurdles: 1. Lowman (G.B.), 11 3/10 secs; 2. Maes (Bel.); 3. Brule (F.); Sramkova (Cz.-S.). Pentathlon: 1. Chapeteau (F.), 18 pts; 2. Lowman (G.B.) 19 pts; 3. Eliott-Lynn (G.B.) and Van Truyen (Bel.); 5. Benzi (It.). http://books.athlos.co.uk/Athletics%20of%20To-Day%20for%20Women/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#65
  • Extract from pages 46-47. Chapter Four 1924-1926: "The last celebration of the Monte Carlo internationals was held in 1923 […]. On June 28 the Second Annual Women’s English Championships were held at the Woolwich Stadium. Representatives of the London Olympiades took seven of the twelve titles […]. World’s records were broken by the London Olympiades – the Misses Lines, Edwards, Lowman and Callebout covering 660 yards in the Relay in 1 min 21 3/5 secs.." http://books.athlos.co.uk/Athletics%20of%20To-Day%20for%20Women/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#71
• The Development of Women™s Track and Field in England: The Role of the Athletic Club, 1920s-1950s by Lynne Duval, Staffordshire University. “However, in 1921, women’s athletics started to become more organised with Milliat responsible for initiating competitive opportunities internationally. Later the same year, London Olympiades Athletic Club (LOAC) was formed by several of the Regent Street Polytechnic students who had attended the first women’s Monte Carlo international the previous Easter. Joe Palmer, who had trained the team and who had accompanied the women to France, suggested while the athletes were on the return train journey to England that a club should beformed. London Olympiades initially had ten members, the name chosen aptly describing the women’s home location and recent experience in what was described as a women’s Olympic Games. LOAC was well organised and very successful. It is also one of the few women’s clubs that has available committee minutes although these, unfortunately, date from 1924 rather than the inaugural year of 1921. The early years of the club’s history reveal that it was undoubtedly the pioneering club, making several trips to compete in Europe. A week after the first Women’s Olympic Games had been held in August 1922, London Olympiades travelled to Brussels where they competed against Femina Sports Club of Brussels and the Paris Club Femina AC. The eight-event match, which was held at the Stade du Parc, Duden, was totally dominated by LOAC members. The performances of Misses Birchenough, Callebout, Hatt and Lowman were particularly significant, for between them they gained seven victories and placed second in four events. The English women also established three Belgian records, which at this time described the best performances set in that country. The importance of London Olympiades within the history of British women’s athletics cannot be underestimated. Not only were several members responsible for the forming of the WAAA [Women’s Amateur Athletic Association] in 1922, but they also established well-organised female competition in their local area." https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll10/id/9477/rec/1
• Nottingham Journal, 18 April 1922. britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. "WOMEN ATHLETES. ENGLISH GIRLS' SUCCESSES IN OLYMPIC GAMES. Monte Carlo, Monday. The women's Olympic games were continued to-day and there were further British successes. In the 250 metres race heats were won by the Misses Lines, Callebout, Lowman, and Russell and by Mdlle. Beuns (France). Miss Callebout’s time of 38 1-5th seconds being the best. Miss Giles finished first in her heat but was disqualified. In the 800 metres race the heat winners were all French. Miss Cast, who was second, also qualified. Winners in the 300 metres relay included England and the Femina Sport Club. In the preliminary heats of the long jump Miss Lines qualified with the best distance covered and those qualifying in throwing the javelin included the Misses Birchenough, Brett and Wright, while in the 300 metres the Misses Lines, Wright, Hatt, and Lowman qualified, the first named returning the best time of 49 3-5th seconds.—Exchange."
• The Sportsman
  • 07 April 1923. britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. "WOMEN'S OLYMPIAD. Monte Carlo. Friday. In the final day's contests England carried off the final of the 250 Metres, which Miss Callebont won in 41secs, and the finals of Relay Races. In the Pentathon Miss Lowman, with 19 points, beat Mlle Chapoteau, France, 18 points. In the final of the basket ball tournament France beat England by 19 goals to one. Of the total awards England headed the list with seven victories; France had three, and Switzerland and Tchecho Slovakia one each. Generally in all the purely athletic contests England, and, above all, Miss Lowman and Miss Callebout demonstrated a clear superiority.—Ex. Tel. Special."
  • August 29, 1923. Women's Amateur A.A. [Athletics Association]. britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk "WOMEN'S AMATEUR A A. FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. RECORDS BEATEN. Until this year the championship events of the Women's Amateur Athletic Association have been distributed amongst various sports promoting bodies, but on Saturday the first gathering, consisting solely of the Association’s championships, took place at Bromley, Kent. Undeterred by drenching downpours of rain before the start, and intermittent showers during the proceedings, the competitors pluckily fought out their various contests in praiseworthy fashion, and some highly creditable feats were the result. [...] HIGH JUMP - H Hatt. L.O.A.C., 4ft 9in, 1; I Lowman, L.O.A.C. 4ft 8in. 2. RELAY RACE - London Olympiads A.C. “A” team (M Lines, A M Cust, I Lowman, and E Edwards)."
  • Wednesday 24 September 1924. britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. "LONDON OLYMPIADES. One of the many out standing features of the athletic season now drawing to a close is the steady improvement, which has been shown among the gentler sex. The movement to organise athletics for women by forming a Women's Amateur Athletic Association was not viewed with universal favour, and there are not a few who are still sceptical as to its wisdom. The movement is, however, on its trial, arid the very restraint exercised by those responsible is one of the happiest auguries for the future. The London Olympiades in Battersea Park on Saturday failed to accomplish anything of outstanding excellence -- the weather was all against that - but the general level of the performances was distinctly good. Although the Discus and Javelin Throwing did not impress in the matter of style Miss Birchenough accomplished 61ft 11 1/2in with the right hand and 50ft 7in with the left in the latter, while in the former Miss Stone did 77ft 8 1/4in. Miss Stone and Miss Lowman had a rare tussle in the three event contest. To her Javelin fourth Miss Stone added a second in the 75 Yards race and a first in the High Jump. Miss Lowman taking third in the Sprint, second in the Javelin, and second in the "High.” The pair agreed to run 50 yards to settle the destination of the awards, and Miss Lowman won by a narrow margin."
• The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959); Jul 27, 1939; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Guardian and The Observer pg. 13. “THE KING'S CROSS OUTRAGE: Injured People's Clothes Torn Off by Force of Explosion. The following people injured in the bomb explosion at King’s Cross Station, London, yesterday were admitted to the Royal Free Hospital. […] Florence Tedore, of the Angel, Islington, and Ivy Lowman, of Collier Street, were also taken to the Royal Free Hospital, but were allowed to leave soon afterwards.”
• AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists website. https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm
• Homerton College Library weblog: International Archives Week: Homerton’s contribution to International Sport, Posted on Tuesday, 9 June 2020, Written by Ms. Svetlana Paterson, Archivist. "Homerton alumni Ivy Lowman (1916-1918) was one of the pioneering women who in the early 1920s braved considerable male opposition to participate in organised athletics competition and was among the first to compete internationally [...] Before attending Homerton College, Ivy Lowman studied at Tottenham High School. where she was also known to be very musical, passing her Sight-Singing Examination Grade I with honours and then gaining a Sight-Singing Grade III Junior Teaching Qualification. After retiring from sport, she taught in India until 1939, before returning to a distinguished teaching career in Britain where she taught French, Maths and Music." https://homlib.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/international-archives-week-homertons-contribution-to-international-sport/amp/

See also:

• Homerton College Cambridge 250 Anniversary. https://homerton250.org
• 1921 Women's Olympiad wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_Women%27s_Olympiad | 1922 Women's Olympiad wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_Women%27s_Olympiad | 1922 Women’s World Games, Paris https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_Women%27s_World_Games | 1923 Women's Olympiad wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Women%27s_World_Games
• 1923 WAAA Championships - first national track and field championships for women in the UK. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_WAAA_Championships
• Women's Amateur Athletic Association (WAAA). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAAA_Championships
• Video of 1922 Team England athletes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTAd5gd6-pI | https://www.britishpathe.com/video/womens-olympiad/
• Comité Olympique Monégasque - Monegasque Olympic Committee http://www.comite-olympique.mc/index.php/en/history/the-womens-olympic-games
• "Women's World Lists 1921-1962" by John Brant and Janusz Wasko, published February 2011. 255x175mm, 408 pages.
• "The World of Women: Scientists and Other Personalities." Illustrated London News [London, England] 22 Sept. 1928: 512. Illustrated London News. Web. 3 Apr. 2019. Copyright: Illustrated London News Ltd. All rights reserved. Gale Document Number: HN3100278244. [Photo of "Miss Hilda Hatt Making A Hurdles Record." Accessed via Auckland Libraries Online Databases. URL:

http://find.galegroup.com.aucklandlibraries.idm.oclc.org/iln/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=ILN&userGroupName=auclib&tabID=T003&docPage=article&docId=HN3100278244&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0]. | Other illustrated articles referring to the WAAA or the Olympiad: "The World of Women." Illustrated London News [London, England] 6 Nov. 1926: 896+. Illustrated London News. Web. 3 Apr. 2019, Gale Document Number: HN3100271397. | "The World of Women: A Page of Personalities." Illustrated London News [London, England] 21 July 1928: 106. Illustrated London News. Web. 3 Apr. 2019, Gale Document Number: HN3100277496.