One hundred and fifty four and still going strong………
Well, we’ve made it! It would probably have been unthinkable to the founding fathers of the Alva Gymnastic Games that the Games would still be around in the year 2010. Then again, with the optimism which pervaded most of society in the early Victorian era perhaps it would not.Encouraged by the inspirational works of Robert Burns and by the more contemporary figures like Walter Scott, it had become acceptable once again to think positively of Scottish culture and heritage. The bans which had been imposed following upon the unsuccessful second Jacobite rebellion of 1745 had long since been consigned to the waste bin of history and exactly a century later, the very first organised Gymnastic Games were held at the foot of the Ochil Hills. A new young Queen had revitalised interest in Scotland and all that that country stood for.
Then, as now, there was great public interest in the health and well being of all of the citizens of the Burgh and, recognising that exercise and personal fitness could play a vital role in improving the overall quality of individual lives, the townsfolk of Alva rallied together to put on gymnastic competitions for display, for competition and, of course, for prizes.This was the age of the steam railways, forging their way northwards towards Inverness, Aberdeen and beyond and even to the now lost station at Alva which closed to passengers over 50 years ago. Steam played a large part in the industrial development of the burgh of Alva with the mills and engineering plants being powered initially by the waters cascading from the Ochils, turning to steam – and the ready supply of local coal and water – for the their motive power. The expansion of the British Empire was at its peak and a positive feeling was in the air.
We should not forget, however, that these were far from perfect times for the vast majority of the people. The Reform Acts of the 1830’s were relatively new and most people could still not vote. There was no gas or electricity grid and the provision of universal health cover over a century away. Against that background, however, the Gymnastic Games were begun. The early years were simple affairs with a ring being set up in the fields at the edge of the town. The first major change in the fortunes of the games came in 1856 when the park which bears his name was given over to the people of Alva by James Johnstone “for the holding of their annual gymnastic games”. A large public procession preceded the formal hand over and there was huge public acclamation for the generosity of this donation. And in the Johnstone Park, Alva, the games have remained ever since, although not always on the second Saturday in July as the games literature of today will tell you. Records show that the actual date of the games has moved about a fair bit since those early days. Often held on a week day rather than the now traditional Saturday, they were also held in August for a long number of years. A trawl through the minutes and accounts ledgers of the games will show that the second Saturday in July was inspired by the organisers of the first games to be held after the interruption of the Great War between 1914 and 1918. The only other years to be lost were during World War 2 when initially European and later international conflict caused their suspension.
