Mellor Clay

Most of Mellor Clay’s competitive gymnastics took place in his native Yorkshire, and rarely far from his Luddendenfoot home. The 1908 London Olympics was one major exception, as he was part of the Great Britain squad that competed in the team all-round competition and finished eighth and last. Clay was one of two members of the Luddendenfoot Congregational Gymnastics Club in the squad, the other being Bertie Stell.

Clay was the son of a Yorkshire wool mill manager, and he was also involved in the wool trade as a spinner. As a gymnast, Clay’s major successes were in team competitions and in 1907 he was captain of Luddendenfoot when they reached the final of the Huddersfield & District Teams Championship. He also represented Huddersfield and District in the annual Yorkshire Inter-District Teams Championship against the Leeds and Bradford districts.

Clay suffered tragedy in March 1910 when his wife of just one year died at the age of 21, less than a month after giving birth to their son Cyril.