his education in Britain
'He was educated at George Watson’s, where he first discovered his talent for running, spent a couple of years at Portsmouth Grammar School, and wrapped up his schooldays at Edinburgh Institution (later Melville College).'
sports.scotsman.com, June 9, 2012
sports.scotsman.com, June 9, 2012
Downer tells of his education in his book Running Recollections, first published in 1900:
'I was educated at Watson's College, Edinburgh, Portsmouth Grammar School, and the Edinburgh Institution.'
'I was educated at Watson's College, Edinburgh, Portsmouth Grammar School, and the Edinburgh Institution.'
George Watson’s College - 1881-6
'Watson's, admirable place of education though it may be, filled my childish soul with loathing. The only part of my school life that I cared about was the approach of the annual school games. At only one of these was I allowed to compete, although I was a scholar there for nearly five years. Once I was prostrated by a severe illness, and again, while taking part with some youthful companions in some races beforehand, I strained my heart, and my mother, backed up by the doctor, forbade me to run.
I remember the latter occasion well, though it is as long as 13 years ago. My mother, to make sure, hid my "running things". Nothing daunted, I went down to the ground and tried to borrow some. My efforts proved unsuccessful, and upon my presenting myself for the "100, under 14," in my ordinary clothes, I was indignantly asked where my "uniform" was. Not liking to admit that it had been hidden by my fond parent, I invented some excuse, which, however, was of no avail, and I was requested to remove myself from the track. I did. I went home and wept bitterly.
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At Watson's, nevertheless, I pulled off my first race. In the year of grace, 1885, I won the 100 yards for boys under 13.
The year after I ran in the Inter-Scholastic Sports, which were open to all Scottish schools, and again proved successful, breaking the tape two yards ahead of another Watson's boy, one Johnny Curry by name. |
Portsmouth Grammar School - 1886-7
I was then sent to Portsmouth Grammar School to be coached for a naval appointment, and remained there nearly two years. At this time I was very small for my age, standing barely 4ft. 9in. I ran at the school sports, which took place on the Saturday previous to Jubilee Day, and I managed to get third in the "150 handicap open." My prize was, of all things, a spirit flask, hardly a suitable sort of prize for a boy of 14!'
'. . . and at Portsmouth I was the smallest boy in the third eleven (football), and I even played for the third eleven at cricket upon one occasion. This was at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, playing against the Isle of Wight College, when I fielded long-stop.'
' The next year I was taken away from Portsmouth on account of my house-master leaving the school, and was then sent to the Institution at Edinburgh.'
His fairly brief attendance at the school was still remembered nearly two decades later:
' The next year I was taken away from Portsmouth on account of my house-master leaving the school, and was then sent to the Institution at Edinburgh.'
His fairly brief attendance at the school was still remembered nearly two decades later:
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Portsmouth Evening News, April 9, 1904
GRAMMAR SCHOOL SPORTS by "OLD BOY" The Portsmouth Grammar School annual sports were held on the Men's Recreation Ground on Friday, in lovely weather, before a large number of spectators. The Grammar School have turned out many a fine runner, the most famous, perhaps, of all being A. R. Downer, the champion sprinter of the world, who was educated at the old School, and won several races at the School Sports at the early age of twelve. |
Edinburgh Institution - 1888-9
(Melville College was founded in 1832 by Rev. Robert Cunningham. Originally named "The Edinburgh Institution for Languages and Mathematics", its name changed when the school moved to Edinburgh's Melville Street. It was merged with Daniel Stewart's College in 1972.)
In The Scotsman for Saturday, July 21st 1888 it was recorded that in the Prize List for Session 1887-88 of the Edinburgh Institution, for Classical, Mathematical, Commercial, and Scientific Education, “A.R. Downer, Jamaican” secured Honorable Mentions for his attainments in Mathematics and English.
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[Stewart's Melville College Former Pupils Club]
DOWNER, Alfred Reynolds (Edinburgh Institution 1888-1889) SAAA Championships: 100 yards, 220 yards and 440 Yards - first triple Scottish Champion. Became professional. Holder of the World Professional Record for 400 yards in 44.8 sec, won at Bolton, 6th February, 1897. |
'Here I ran at the school sports, which I don't think I would have missed for a pension. That I was still of very small stature will be readily understood when I mention that I won the hurdle race for boys under 5ft. That was the only prize I ever won over the sticks, either at school or elsewhere. It must not be imagined that foot running was the only sport that engrossed my attention at school. While at school in Edinburgh I was an ardent and active supporter of the football clubs of both schools.'
It seems that Downer may have played Rugby for his old school even after he left:
The Scotsman, October 17th 1892,
2nd Institution v. 2nd Grange – At Portobello. This was the opening match for the Institution, and after a hard-fought game, they won by 3 goals from tries. Cook, Downer, and Begg scoring, the first-named doing the needful.
The Scotsman, October 17th 1892,
2nd Institution v. 2nd Grange – At Portobello. This was the opening match for the Institution, and after a hard-fought game, they won by 3 goals from tries. Cook, Downer, and Begg scoring, the first-named doing the needful.
He was still remembered nearly four decades later:
'My school days terminated with my exam in 1889 for the post of an Engineer student in the Navy, when, I regret to say, I was most ignominiously "ploughed." '
