Ted Blake
Encyclopedia
Ted Blake was an early British
trampoline
pioneer.
Following the development of modern trampolines in the USA
by George Nissen
, Ted Blake was a major contributor to their nascence in the United Kingdom
and in developing International Competition for trampolining
.
In his early years Ted went to the Latymer School in London and on leaving there held a variety of jobs before joining the army in 1939. During war years he trained as a Physical Training Instructor, transferring from the Essex Regiment
to the Army Physical Training Corps
in 1941 and rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Major
Instructor (CSMI) by the time of his discharge in 1946. For most of his army life Ted was based at the Essex Regiment's depot at Brentwood
.
Having left the army, Ted spent the next 3 years attending courses to become a teacher. Starting out at the Loxford School in Ilford
, Essex
in 1949 he soon introduced a single second-hand Nissen trampoline. Whilst at the Loxford School, Ted developed a trampoline squad of sufficient skill that they were invited to do a demonstration at the Festival of Britain
in 1951. Ted remained at Loxford School until 1956 when he left to establish the UK operation of Nissen.
Ted subsequently became Managing Director for the Nissen UK business based at their factory in Hutton Industrial Estate, Brentwood, Essex
. Together with Kurt Baechler of Switzerland, Ted was credited with the introduction of trampolining to Europe.
Being passionate about trampolining he was not only involved in their commercial development but heavily involved in developing the competitive trampolining
framework we see today.
It is likely that Ted was heavily involved in the UK National Championships which are credited, in 1958, with being the first televised national championships.
In 1964 Ted organised the first World Championships (financed by George Nissen) which were held in the Royal Albert Hall
, London
. That same year, following these first World Championships, he attended an inaugural meeting of prominent trampolinists in Frankfurt
to discuss the formation of an International Trampoline Federation. This was launched as the (FIT) in Twickenham
in 1965 and Ted became its first Vice-President, a position he held until 1967. So influential was Ted at the time that three of the first four World Championships were organised by him and held in London - at this time they took place every year.
Having delivered at the Senior level, Ted continued to be heavily involved in promoting competition, and in 1973 working with Bob Bollinger and George Nissen created the World Age Group Competition, which now runs alongside the World Championships every two years.
Ted appeared, however, to not always be comfortable with authority and in 1972 was scathing about the FIT he had originally developed, questioning why it was so bureaucratic
and gymnastics
oriented in an international publication of that time.
One of few Britons so honoured, in 1976 he was recognised by the United States Trampoline & Tumbling Association for his major influence on developing modern trampolining by being added to their Hall of Fame.
Ted left Nissen in mid-1980 having spent many years staving off the pressure from Nissen's then-owners to cease manufacturing trampolines because of fears of litigation. They had previously ceased manufacture in USA many years before for this very reason. Ted continued to give talks and lectures, however and soon became a leading light in the UK Leisure Management Industry.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
trampoline
Trampoline
A trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched over a steel frame using many coiled springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes....
pioneer.
Following the development of modern trampolines in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by George Nissen
George Nissen
George P. Nissen was an American gymnast and inventor who developed the modern trampoline and made trampolining a worldwide sport.-Background:...
, Ted Blake was a major contributor to their nascence in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and in developing International Competition for trampolining
Trampolining
Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists....
.
In his early years Ted went to the Latymer School in London and on leaving there held a variety of jobs before joining the army in 1939. During war years he trained as a Physical Training Instructor, transferring from the Essex Regiment
Essex Regiment
The Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
to the Army Physical Training Corps
Army Physical Training Corps
The Royal Army Physical Training Corps is the British Army corps responsible for physical fitness and physical education. Its members are all Royal Army Physical Training Corps Instructors ....
in 1941 and rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Major
Company Sergeant Major
A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
Instructor (CSMI) by the time of his discharge in 1946. For most of his army life Ted was based at the Essex Regiment's depot at Brentwood
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
.
Having left the army, Ted spent the next 3 years attending courses to become a teacher. Starting out at the Loxford School in Ilford
Ilford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1949 he soon introduced a single second-hand Nissen trampoline. Whilst at the Loxford School, Ted developed a trampoline squad of sufficient skill that they were invited to do a demonstration at the Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
in 1951. Ted remained at Loxford School until 1956 when he left to establish the UK operation of Nissen.
Ted subsequently became Managing Director for the Nissen UK business based at their factory in Hutton Industrial Estate, Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
. Together with Kurt Baechler of Switzerland, Ted was credited with the introduction of trampolining to Europe.
Being passionate about trampolining he was not only involved in their commercial development but heavily involved in developing the competitive trampolining
Trampolining
Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists....
framework we see today.
It is likely that Ted was heavily involved in the UK National Championships which are credited, in 1958, with being the first televised national championships.
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. That same year, following these first World Championships, he attended an inaugural meeting of prominent trampolinists in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
to discuss the formation of an International Trampoline Federation. This was launched as the (FIT) in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
in 1965 and Ted became its first Vice-President, a position he held until 1967. So influential was Ted at the time that three of the first four World Championships were organised by him and held in London - at this time they took place every year.
Having delivered at the Senior level, Ted continued to be heavily involved in promoting competition, and in 1973 working with Bob Bollinger and George Nissen created the World Age Group Competition, which now runs alongside the World Championships every two years.
Ted appeared, however, to not always be comfortable with authority and in 1972 was scathing about the FIT he had originally developed, questioning why it was so bureaucratic
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
and gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
oriented in an international publication of that time.
One of few Britons so honoured, in 1976 he was recognised by the United States Trampoline & Tumbling Association for his major influence on developing modern trampolining by being added to their Hall of Fame.
Ted left Nissen in mid-1980 having spent many years staving off the pressure from Nissen's then-owners to cease manufacturing trampolines because of fears of litigation. They had previously ceased manufacture in USA many years before for this very reason. Ted continued to give talks and lectures, however and soon became a leading light in the UK Leisure Management Industry.