Allworthy Cup

Thomas Walter Charles Allworthy was born on the 4^th December 1885, the son of a pawnbroker who plied his trade at 127 King’s Cross Road. It was a fairly lucrative establishment and his father employed not only assistants but general servants to support the household. When his father died Allworthy took over the management of the business.

On 9^th December 1915, a few days after his 30^th birthday, Allworthy enlisted for the army. The war was in full swing in Europe and he was posted to the Army Services Corps. Unlike many others, he survived and by 1919 he was living in Tollington Park, just a few miles from the Alexandra Palace.

In 1925 Allworthy set up a business, Theatrical Publications Limited. He was already a director of the Wyvern Press and by 1927 he had met and married Eveleen Dillon, with whom he had two daughters. Quite what Allworthy’s connection was with roller skating at that point in time is not clear, but we do know that on 13^th September 1929 he is co-opted on to the Roller Committee. This committee existed at that time to be the over-arching body for roller speed and artistic (figure and dance as it was known). A year later, on 23^rd September 1930 he was appointed Chairman, a post he held up until around May 1931.