We'll add new ones if we discover them. Postcards must have been a very popular way of communicating short messages early in the last century when there was apparently same-day postal service locally and next day any where in the British Isles. Professor Powsey seems to have utilized this advertising and promotional tool and there are a number of photos in the Canadian Powsey's photo albums and also images of cards for sale or trade on the internet. Here is an accumulation of them.
Photograph by Sonny Neil Powsey
The statue of Professor Powsey performing his terrific bicycle dive at the Pier End in Southport.
This is an image of a postcard in the posssession of Barbara Garner, a great-grand-daughter of Professor Powsey. She is the daughter of Ronald Powsey, who was a son of Archie Powsey, who was one of the sons of Professor Powsey. According to Barbara, this shows Professor Powsey with her grandfather Archie. The Professor's obituary suggests that it was Herbert and Gladys who were taught how to swim and dive, but obviously it was a family affair, and Alfred Amos (Nick) Powsey told his children and grandchildren stories of his helping at the diving venues. Furthermore, Horace (Albert) Powsey, who emigrated to Canada in the 1930's recalled to the Powsey's who emigrated here in the 1960's how he met his future wife while performing on a pier. More of that remarkable story later when we create a post for Uncle Albert and Auntie Clara.
The sack dive off an unknown pier. From the original postcard passed down to Mathew Powsey.
This is the image that Sonny Powsey has found and used on the Facebook Powsey group. Not sure where he found it, but this version was gleaned from the internet in a magazine called 'This is the North East'. There was an item about 'amateur photographer' Jack Wright and included in it along with a piercing self portrait of Jack himself is the information of exactly what Professor Powsey was doing at 7:00pm on August 25th 1934. Interestingly, Jack Wright was the name of the husband of Professor Powsey's daughter Dolly, but this probably isn't the same person as the photographer's real given name was John H. Wright.
This is a photo of a full size poster now in the possession of Mathew Powsey in Canada. There is no date, but the reference in the obituary below to Professor Powsey's last dive being for charity suggests that this may in fact be a poster advertising his very last dive at the age of 75.
Who was Professor Osborne? Obviously Professor Powsey had company on the Southport Pier. And who was Professor Reddish, the name of another pier diver that comes up in searches? This image was probably gleaned off the internet from a magazine. There is, however, a mention in the magazine text of Professor Powsey and his bicycle.
Another version of the Jack Wright photograph of Professor Powsey diving at Redcar Fairground. The Bovril logo appears in many photographs of dives and was presumably a sponser or paid advertiser in some way.
Another postcard passed down to the Canadian Powsey contingent. This shows Professor Powsey top left with, presumably, one of his sons diving.
Professor Powsey's Sensational Dive on a Bamber Cycle....Southport Pier
This image was found in the August 1981 issue of 'Lancashire Life' magazine's 'This and That' section, under the title 'Postcard Corner'. Joan Humphries, who presumably submitted the card for publication, asks in a caption under this image:
'Were Bamber bicycles built locally? Was the card produced to advertise the cycles or the feats of the diver? Were the bikes recovered by rowing-boat, or did they wait for low-tide? And who was Professor Powsey? Maybe a Southport reader will know?'
This is an image of a postcard in the posssession of Barbara Garner, a great-grand-daughter of Professor Powsey. She is the daughter of Ronald Powsey, who was a son of Archie Powsey, who was one of the sons of Professor Powsey. According to Barbara, this shows Professor Powsey with her grandfather Archie. The Professor's obituary suggests that it was Herbert and Gladys who were taught how to swim and dive, but obviously it was a family affair, and Alfred Amos (Nick) Powsey told his children and grandchildren stories of his helping at the diving venues. Furthermore, Horace (Albert) Powsey, who emigrated to Canada in the 1930's recalled to the Powsey's who emigrated here in the 1960's how he met his future wife while performing on a pier. More of that remarkable story later when we create a post for Uncle Albert and Auntie Clara.
The sack dive off an unknown pier. From the original postcard passed down to Mathew Powsey.
This is the image that Sonny Powsey has found and used on the Facebook Powsey group. Not sure where he found it, but this version was gleaned from the internet in a magazine called 'This is the North East'. There was an item about 'amateur photographer' Jack Wright and included in it along with a piercing self portrait of Jack himself is the information of exactly what Professor Powsey was doing at 7:00pm on August 25th 1934. Interestingly, Jack Wright was the name of the husband of Professor Powsey's daughter Dolly, but this probably isn't the same person as the photographer's real given name was John H. Wright.
This is a photo of a full size poster now in the possession of Mathew Powsey in Canada. There is no date, but the reference in the obituary below to Professor Powsey's last dive being for charity suggests that this may in fact be a poster advertising his very last dive at the age of 75.
Who was Professor Osborne? Obviously Professor Powsey had company on the Southport Pier. And who was Professor Reddish, the name of another pier diver that comes up in searches? This image was probably gleaned off the internet from a magazine. There is, however, a mention in the magazine text of Professor Powsey and his bicycle.
Another version of the Jack Wright photograph of Professor Powsey diving at Redcar Fairground. The Bovril logo appears in many photographs of dives and was presumably a sponser or paid advertiser in some way.
Another postcard passed down to the Canadian Powsey contingent. This shows Professor Powsey top left with, presumably, one of his sons diving.
Professor Powsey's Sensational Dive on a Bamber Cycle....Southport Pier
This image was found in the August 1981 issue of 'Lancashire Life' magazine's 'This and That' section, under the title 'Postcard Corner'. Joan Humphries, who presumably submitted the card for publication, asks in a caption under this image:
'Were Bamber bicycles built locally? Was the card produced to advertise the cycles or the feats of the diver? Were the bikes recovered by rowing-boat, or did they wait for low-tide? And who was Professor Powsey? Maybe a Southport reader will know?'
An undocumented image of the bicycle dive gleaned from the internet
The dive in flames from a post card passed down a few generations and now in the possession of Professor Powsey's great grandson Mathew Powsey. There is writing on the front and back of the postcard, and when a photo can be made of the back it will be posted as it is almost certainly an inscription by Professor Powsey himself.
........................................................................................................................................................................
7 comments:
As a sports historian it warms my heart to see a family celebrate their past. This is an excellent blog site that will certainly help people like me to delve into the 'real' people behind the names we use to tell our stories.
Well done team Powsey
Keith Myerscough
keith.myerscough@blackpool.ac.uk
Hey, thanks Keith. The little project has gone a bit dry but hopefully we'll get back to it again one day. Everyone busy.
Hi Clive
I was a member of a beat group in Liverpool in the 60's and Bert Powsey our manager told us he was the son of High Diver Bert Powsey.
Any info you can let me have about Bert Jnr would be much appreciated
Peter Mercer
He was my great great great grandfather
Bert powsey was my great great great grandfather
We just been to Albert's Grave and put our Auntie Margaret Powsey with our Great Grandad I took picture of the grave but dont know how to add it here. Beautiful day. Great Grandads Monument looks a bit worse for wear with pigeons sitting on him.
My great great grandmother was Dolly. Dolly brought my father and his sister Pam up after their mother and fathers marriage broke down and they separated. My father grew up sharing a bedroom with the old diver, professor powsey. I grew up listening to endless tales about the old diver and what he got up to. My father now lives on the Isle of Skye and still recalls all the old divers antics back in the day.
Post a Comment