Bill Curtis (Senior)

William Morris (Maurice?) Curtis was born in Greenwich on 19th November 1862. His father, Maurice, was a bell hanger by trade and died whilst William was still in his teens. Although a general labourer Curtis also worked at his local roller rink in Blackheath where found his love and passion for roller skating. By the time he was twenty years old he was married and a father. Shortly afterwards Curtis and his new family moved to Holloway in the Islington area of London, although his love of roller skating persisted.

In May 1885 Curtis entered a race. Roller skating as an activity was gaining rapid popularity with the general public and he was quite adept at it. A few months earlier in March, America had famously held a six day ‘go-as-you-like’ roller skating race at Madison Square Gardens. Endurance events, whether walking (pedestrian), cycling or indeed roller skating, were all the rage but the event in America would prove quite disastrous resulting in the death of two of the twenty-six competitors. One of them, 19 year old James Donovan, had actually won the event but collapsed and died just 36 hours later after the physical exertions took their toll on him.

On Monday May 18th twenty three skaters took to a makeshift asphalt track at the Royal Aquarium in Westminster to compete in Britain’s own version of the six day race for a shared prize of £200. It was a relatively small circuit measuring 16 laps to the mile. Amongst the other entrants were J. Bickley (ex-amateur Five Mile Champion), H. Pelikoff (Russian Champion), R. Hunt (Ten Mile Champion of Leicester) and various other skaters from across the country, all with self-declared skating honours. In those days there was no official governing body and all declared honours were self-proclaimed and considered dubious to say the least, which became even more apparent after the race was started. Also amongst the starters was another youngster, Arthur Buckhurst, captain of the Camden Roller Skating Club. Buckhurst and his family would feature quite a lot in Curtis’s life as the years went on.

William wasn’t initially down to race but the withdrawal of Charles Holmes resulted in Curtis skating in his place. He would finish 10th in the event, the last of the remaining skaters to complete all six days. The winning distance covered was 354 miles by A. Gould (Leytonstone) whereas Curtis would amass just 217 miles. Whilst he made little impact on the skating world in this particular race, roller skating was suddenly everywhere and enjoying a major boom period. Curtis undoubtedly recognised that he could make some decent money if he were to be successful.

A year later, in 1886, the Olympia exhibition hall officially opened in Addison Road, Kensington. The building had actually been erected in 1885 and Curtis soon found himself working at the venue. He moved his family to nearby Porten Road, just a few streets away from Olympia and the rink swiftly became his second home.

With roller skating being so popular the Grand Hall of Olympia then housed what was the largest roller rink in the world. At some 200 feet wide and 400 feet long the immense rink was measured at just six and three quarter laps to the mile. Working at Olympia Curtis had the ideal opportunity to perfect his art. Those who came to know him at the rink nicknamed him “Lewisham”. Not only was he by now an accomplished speed skater but his tricks and fancy skating were also capturing the attention of others, so much so that he was able to offer shows of his trickery to paying punters. Since his arrival at Olympia in 1886 roller skating was no longer a hobby or a pastime for Curtis, it was now his profession. He had been on the circuit for a few years earning money from his shows and the occasional race but in 1890 he really got himself noticed.

As with most roller rinks Olympia had an ‘out-of-season’ where it closed for a period for renovation and redecoration. On April 21st 1890, it once again opened its doors to much fanfare.

For more than a decade one of Britain’s most prominent roller skaters had been Hal Berte (real name Albert Perkins).  Berte had publicly self-declared himself the Champion of England, suggesting that his racing exploits and victories under the watchful gaze of the general British public afforded him this recognition. Other skaters who purported to hold that title or similar were regularly dismissed by Berte, emphasising to all who would listen as to why he should be recognised as the only bona-fide champion. In May 1890, shortly after the re-opening of Olympia, Berte raced and beat another well-known speed skater, Frank Delmont (self-declared Champion of India and Australia) in a best of three races (one mile, two miles and three miles) for a silver tea service. Then in June it was announced that Berte would race a local hero, William Curtis, over five miles.

On 26th June 1890 the pair took to the track at Olympia. Both skaters put up a stake of £25, winner takes all. In 1890 this was not a small amount and William would have had to have been confident of victory to accept this stake. And why wouldn’t he be? He was still only 26 years old and on his home track that he knew inside and out. Berte, however, had already beaten Delmont on the rink a month earlier and was well established in the eyes of many as the true Champion of England. It was a gamble. This is how the race was reported in the St. James’ Gazette the following evening:

“…for the first four miles the racers kept level, though it was apparent Curtis was going much the easier of the pair. Entering the first lap of the last mile, Berte went a bit wide at the corner, seeing which Curtis put on a tremendous spurt and after a great struggle for fifty yards went to the front for the first time, and gradually left his opponent in the rear. Eventually Curtis won by forty yards, the last mile having been skated in the unprecedented time of 3 min. 2 sec., which beats K. A. Skinner’s time, 3 min. 6 ½ sec., made in Boston, U.S.A., in 1884. Full time for the five miles, 16 min. 18 ¾ sec.”

Curtis’s victory over Hal Berte catapulted him into the upper echelons of speed skating professionalism virtually overnight. Within days Berte had offered a rematch. W. G. Eddowes wrote to Sporting Life suggesting that Curtis should race him as he had already beaten Berte. Leicester skating maestro, Tertius Picton Blakesley (a self-declared World Champion), also offered to skate against Curtis in a one mile, three mile and five mile series of events. Suddenly anyone who was anyone in the speed skating world wanted to race William Curtis, and for money!

Challenges came thick and fast and on 2nd August, Curtis agreed to race Frank Delmont over five miles. The rink also agreed to pay out £25 to the winner should the world record be beaten. From the gun Curtis led and soon opened up a gap of twenty yards. At the half way distance Delmont, realising he was well beaten, gave up the ghost and left the rink. A watching Arthur Buckhurst quickly joined in and helped pace Curtis for the remainder of the race (such as was allowed back then). Roared on by a crowd numbering eight thousand or more Curtis skated across the line in a time of 15 minutes 41 seconds, a full 8 ½ seconds faster than the previous world record set by the American skater K. A. Skinner.

Two weeks later and a race declared as the Three Mile Championship of England was held at Olympia. This time there were a number of entrants. Amongst them were Berte, Buckhurst, Eddowes, Tennant, Blakesley and of course, Curtis. Curtis went into the event understandably now a firm favourite and as the race progressed the lead swapped continuously between himself and Buckhurst. Out of the last bend it was neck and neck between Curtis and Buckhurst and a sprint for the finish ensued. Buckhurst came home a yard ahead of Curtis and the disappointed favourite had to make do with second place.

A week on from that and a challenge event between Delmont and Curtis over one mile would also see Curtis again come home second. Suddenly Curtis was showing vulnerability. However, on 18th December normal service resumed when again in front of a crowd of thousands, Curtis came home the winner in a professional five mile event. Curtis also broke in the New Year with a victory in the Roy Challenge Cup, a popular two mile event with a huge crowd numbering ten thousand. Curtis was already the holder of this trophy and this was his second victory.

By March 1891 Curtis was now well established and had also begun to find his voice with the press. Writing in Sporting Life he disputed a recent claim by Frank Delmont as his being the ‘Champion of the World’. Curtis offered to race Delmont (again) for a purse of £100 (£50 each stake) to prove that it was he who was the faster skater and therefore the fastest in the world. He signed off as ‘Champion of England’. Delmont accepted the challenge but just a few days before the event he unexpectedly declared himself retired. Delmont wrote of his decision in Sporting Life and stated that due to his retirement Curtis should now be recognised as Champion of England and the World. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic another skater was making a name for himself, James Snowden. Heralding from New York Snowden had swept all before him and Curtis was more than aware of the American. With Delmont now retired Curtis threw down the gauntlet to Snowden. Snowden quickly responded and was soon sailing his way to England.

On Monday 3rd March, Curtis and Snowden met for the first time. The race was over one mile at Olympia and Curtis would come away victorious which was well received by the crowd. The second race over two miles, however, was won by Snowden. The third, a three mile event, was declared non-event after Snowden was victim to an accident, details of which are unclear. So, after three events, honours were even between the two speed skating giants.

In April, Snowden offered a challenge to Curtis for £50 a side to compete for an event to be declared as a World Championship. The race could be of any distance of Curtis’s choosing between one and five miles and to be held at Olympia. Curtis agreed on two miles and the date for the showdown was set for 9th May.

The event was garnering much interest and bets were being taken openly as to who might be victorious. Curtis was the favourite and Snowden, hearing of this, wrote the following in Sporting Life, published just three days before they met:

“Hearing that a good many small bets at 5 to 4 and 3 to 2 on Curtis, I would like to say that I am willing to back myself in amounts of £5 upwards, at even money up to £100. All communications addressed to me at the Olympia Rink will meet with prompt attention.”

In the meantime Curtis was again challenged by Tertius Blakesley. Curtis accepted Blakesley’s challenge but in doing so stated openly that Blakesley’s self-declared recognition as ‘champion’ was “absurd”. Curtis was still the man of the moment.

May 9th 1891 finally arrived. The skaters were presented to the crowd, the largest ever seen at Olympia for such an event. Snowden, aged 26, had won at every distance in America and was recognised as the number one contender for a world title. In a six day event he had reportedly completed 1,166 miles, more than five times the distance Curtis had covered back in 1885. Curtis was now 27 and was the holder of the five mile record, the Champion of England and recognised in some quarters as a ‘Champion Short Distance Skater of the World’. He was also on his home track and idolised by the cheering spectators.

At 9:06pm the gun went and the two skaters made their way off the line. Snowden led from the start but the pace was steady. He initially pulled a slight gap of two yards but Curtis soon pulled it back to within a yard. The race was over thirteen laps and in the eighth Curtis went to the front. He remained there until two laps to go when Snowden suddenly accelerated catching Curtis by surprise. The turn of speed astonished the crowd and Snowden began to pull away. He crossed the line some fifteen yards ahead of Curtis to take the spoils and the (unofficial) title, much to the well voiced disappointment of the crowd who had seen their local hero well beaten.

Unperturbed Curtis continued to race. After all, it was now his livelihood and whilst victory was not always guaranteed or indeed forthcoming, he was still the name that people wanted to challenge. Since 1886 Curtis had always raced at Olympia but in December 1891 he left the comfort of his home rink and took up the challenge from another American, Baker, at the Central Hall Rink in Holborn. Baker would win from Curtis by just over a yard.

In April 1892 the same venue held a six day ‘go-as-you-like’ event where all the recognised elite would take part. James Snowden won the event with a total of 804 miles under his belt. Curtis came home fifth with 735 miles.

Two weeks later and a twenty-seven hour ‘go-as-you-like’ race was held, again at Central Hall. Snowden did not turn out for this event which was eventually won by American compatriot, Baker, with 303 miles. Curtis would finish in second place on 291 miles.

By December Curtis was again mixing his speed skating with that of his fancy and trick skating, and again putting on shows for the watching public. By now his old rival and friend, Arthur Buckhurst, was appointed manager of the new St. George’s Hall Rink in Wandsworth by the proprietor (and Buckhurst’s brother-in-law) James Wilson. On the opening night Curtis supported Buckhurst with a display of trick skating that included jumping over ten chairs and jumping through hoops, much to the delight of the 800 strong crowd. Also present was Buckhurst’s nephew, a young skater by the name of Charles Wilson. An amateur race over one mile was held with just four entrants. Sixteen year old Wilson would win by a yard. Nobody knew or realised at that time that just twelve months later roller speed skating would have its own governing body and formally come under the auspices of the National Skating Association. Charles Wilson would be declared as the first official individual British Champion a few weeks later on the very same rink. Wilson would undoubtedly have heard of Curtis. When Wilson was just thirteen years of age he raced in a juvenile event at Olympia and beat 53 other skaters at the time and Curtis would have been widely known.

For a short period afterwards Curtis continued to race in events billed as America v England, with the likes of Snowden and Scriven amongst the competitors. These events were held at the Wandsworth rink and Curtis continued to support Buckhurst and promote his rink but the roller skating craze was starting to wane and Olympia was looking elsewhere to bring in revenue.

In February 1893, Curtis accepted the position of manager for what was knows as the American Roller Skating Club Rink in Church Street, Islington. The owner of the rink was Charles Buckhurst, father of his friend and Wandsworth rink manager, Arthur Buckhurst. Curtis’s role as manager, however, was short lived. Just as rapidly as the craze had taken hold a few years earlier, the roller skating phenomenon was rapidly declining. Curtis would now be struggling to make any money from the sport. He had a young family who all demanded his attention and he needed to provide for.

Curtis continued to carry out his shows and an occasional race but the money was drying up fast and he very soon turned to bricklaying as a means to support his family.

In May 1898 Curtis rolled back the years and took part in a road race to show off a new type of ‘road skate’. The event was part of a racing festival organised by the Polytechnic Cycling Club and held on the Kensal Rise cycling track. It was evident that he was out of form and that his glory days were now well and truly behind him, however, William Junior, now aged ten, took part in a half mile exhibition race and romped home an easy winner having been a last minute substitute.

Curtis continued to support William Junior in his own quest for skating glory and whilst he would not reach the dizzy heights or popularity his father enjoyed, William Junior would still become a familiar figure on the roller speed skating scene (but that’s another story).

The years went by and by 1939 Curtis was widowed and living in Wandsworth, still plying his trade as a bricklayer well into his 70’s. His children now enjoyed a resurgence in roller skating fortunes and developed their own show, “The Skating Riots”, a comedy roller skating acrobatics act which they took around the various rinks theatres throughout England.

In 1942 aged 80 Curtis quietly passed away. Very few at that time knew of or remembered his exploits of 60 years prior, or indeed what a superstar he had been to thousands of adoring fans or amongst his peer group. Roller skating was not a sport that was embraced by the public for long periods. It had moments of boom, and then just as quickly, bust. Curtis was certainly a name recognised in a major boom period in the 1880’s and was so successful he managed to earn a living from it.

William Morris Curtis was part of an era long before official British, European or World Championships were recognised, but despite this he was still celebrated as an elite speed skater and celebrity of his time. He is remembered here as a British skating legend from a period when skating legends were indeed a real thing.