150 years earlier a Scouser called John Hulley masterminded the 1st National Olympian Games in 1866.

By means of the John Hulley Legacy, a series of sporting events have been organised to achieve self-sustaining financial success. These include the John Hulley Equestrian Event, the John Hulley Cross Mersey Swim, the John Hulley Formby Hall Golf Tournament, the Aintree Family Fun Day, the Crosby Junior Aqualon.



The John Hulley Sefton Triathlon started in 2002 but ended in 2013. Efforts are being made to resume this very popular event.

A further demonstration of Liverpool Heartbeat’s promotion of the John Hulley story was the intention to have a statue of John Hulley erected in a suitable location in Liverpool. After a few false starts, Robin Baynes was successful in agreeing with the Canal and River Trust to have the statue placed on a plinth on Liverpool waterfront.


Planning permission was granted and a local sculptor Tom Murphy was commissioned to produce an appropriate figure. The statue was sponsored by Liverpool Heartbeat and was unveiled by the Princess Royal on 14 June 2019, exactly 10 years after the re-dedication of his grave. Princess Anne spoke to several people associated with the John Hulley story, including myself.

She gave a short speech in which she said that thanks to John Hulley, the first Olympic Committee was set up in Liverpool, from which the existing one followed on. He also set the example for Pierre de Coubertin, who managed to create a more international version. But it is from here and his work that has set an example that has grown into

an extraordinary world-wide movement. It is only appropriate that John Hulley should be recognised not just here in Liverpool, but also around the world.

The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque on the plinth reading "John Hulley 1832-1875 Liverpool's First Olympian, self-styled the Gymnasiarch Unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal 14th June 2019 Gifted by Mr Robin Baynes MBE & Mrs Brenda Baynes Sculptor: Tom Murphy”.



Three other plaques reading as follows were also unveiled:



“John Hulley 1832-1875. In 1865 John Hulley chaired the first meeting of the National Olympian Association In his Myrtle Street Gymnasium with Dr William Penny Brookes (Much Wenlock) and Ernst George Ravenstein (London).



These men were known as The 'Three Founding Fathers' of the Modern day Olympics”.



“John Hulley 1832-1875. His Motto was "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" (A healthy mind in a healthy body).



In 1867 John Hulley said 'What I desire to impress upon you is that Olympic Festivals are not the end of physical education. Physical Education, or rather its dissemination, is the end. John Hulley registered the first Across Mersey Swim in the Grand Liverpool Olympic Festival 1863”.



“John Hulley 1832-1875. In 2008 Family historian Ray Hulley rediscovered Hulley's grave in Smithdown Road Cemetery. He led a group of enthusiasts who, with the support of the British Olympic Foundation and the International Olympic Committee were able to renovate John Hulley's grave.



A rededication ceremony was held on June 14 2009. John Hulley has been included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, a respected work of reference on notable figures from British History”.



This event marks the culmination of my research efforts regarding John Hulley the Liverpool Gymnasiarch, and will remain long in my memory, and that of my family. To have Royal recognition of one’s family history research is a rare occurrence and something that I will treasure forever.