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The Flying Scotsman
Eric Liddell was a Scottish athlete and missionary born in China in 1902. He attended Edinburgh University where he excelled in athletics, breaking national records. At the 1924 Paris Olympics, Liddell won gold in the 400m and set a world record. After graduating, he became a missionary in China where he continued athletics and married. During World War 2, Liddell was interned by the Japanese at a camp where conditions deteriorated until his death in 1945. Liddell's story was depicted in the film "Chariots of Fire" and he is remembered as one of Scotland's greatest athletes.
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The Flying Scotsman
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- 2. Important Dates • Bornin China Jan 16 1902 • Died in China Feb 21 1945 2
- 3. His early yearsin China • The second son of Christian missionary parents. • Family based at the London Missionary Society compound in Shanghai. • Parents left Shanghai to settle in Tientsin. • Eric Henry Liddell born 1902. • 1903 family moved to Siaochang in North China 3
- 4. Education 1) Eltham College 2) Edinburgh University. 4
- 5. Edinburgh University • Studied Science • Graduated with BSc • Played Rugby in Winter • Athletics in Summer. 5
- 6. Athletics and Rugby 1) Athletics 1921 Scottish Champs 100yds & 220yds Winner Glasgow Herald Predicted that he could Be a British Champ and could complete in the Olympics 2)Rugby 1921/22 Played in 7 Internationals during that Season 3)1922 Broke the Scottish Native Record for 220yds 21.8secs 4)Ran at English Champs at Stamford Bridge and set British Records 100yds 9.7 220yds 21.6 The 100yds record stood for 34 years. 6
- 7. Lord Provost Reception •Very Formal Presentation. • Mention was made of his “Trainer” Tom McKerchar. 7
- 8. Paris Olympics 1924 • 1923 Triangular International • Competing in 440yds . Feature in the film • “Chariots of Fire” • 1924 Selected for Paris Olympics to run in the 400m. Set Olympic and World record 47.6 • Scot’s Kirk Paris. • July 17 McEwan Hall • “Mr Liddell, you have shown that no one can pass you but the examiners!!” • “Complementary Dinner” Edinburgh • “The Student” Success in Athletics sufficient to turn the head of any ordinary man has left Liddell absolutely unspoilt, and his modesty is entirely genuine and unaffected . He has taken his triumph in his stride, and never made any sort of fuss. • A) U.S.A. 4x440 Relay • B) Canada at Greenock 100yds 220 yds • 2) Further Studies at The Congregational College Hope Terr, Edin. • 3) Spent most weekends at Evangelical Meetings. 8
- 9. Time Spent afterGraduation • 1) Athletic Meetings. 9
- 10. Lord’s Day Association •1) Non Observance of Lords Day • 2)Alcohol • 3) May 1925 Scottish Champs • 4)”For China now another race he runs • As sure and straight as those Olympic ones • And if the ending’s not so simply known • We’ll judge he’ll make it since his speeds his own 10
- 11. Journey to China • 4th July 1925 • Train to London • London to Folkestone to Flushing to Berlin to • Riga to Moscow -Trans -Siberian train to China • Reunited with his father and mother. • “The City of the Heavenly Ford” Tientsin. 11
- 12. Tientsin • 1) Would live and work for the next 12 Years. • He had a break of a year 1932/32 for leave. • 2) Population 1.5 Million. • Small area occupied by Chinese. • Much larger area occupied by Foreigners • Austrian,Italian,Russian, Japanese, French, Belgian,German,British. 12
- 13. Anglo-Chinese College • Founded by L.M.S. IN 1902. • Boys only-mainly Chinese 12Yrs-18yrs. • Teaching in English 500 students. • Staff of 5 British and 25 Chinese Masters. 13
- 14. Athletics in China • 1926-1930 • Min Yuan Stadium in Tientsin. • 1928 South Manchurian Railway Meeting • 1929 Ran against Otto Peltzer 880yds World Record holder. 14
- 15. Return to Scotland • Served for 30 years. • 1898 Started in Mongolia. • 1899 Boxers Uprising through to 1901. • 1900 moved to Shanghai. • North China. • 1907 First Home Break. 15
- 16. Ordination • 1932 Ordainedinto the Ministry of the Scottish Congregational Church • Returns to China to take up a new post. • July 1930 Engaged to a Canadian Florence MacKenzie whose parents were Canadian Missionaries. • 1934 Married in Tientsin. 16
- 17. Married Life • 1935First Daughter born. • 1937 Second Daughter born • Moves away from college to do Missionary work where his father had worked 35 years ago. 17
- 18. Moves away fromTientsin • 1937 Liddell moved to Siaochang to work now as a Missionary. His wife and family remained in Tientsin. • Outbreak of war between China and Japan. • 1939 Went on leave to Scotland while his wife and two girls returned to Canada 18
- 19. The Dangers ofWar • 1941 Japanese closed down The Hospital and the Foreign Residences. • Siaochang evacuated . All back to Tientsin. • Wife and children sent home to Canada. • Japan bomb Pearl Harbour. • 1943 Internment at at Weihsien 19
- 20. Captivity • 1) Accommodation • 2)1,800 Internees :Men,Women and Children. • Range of Nationalities • Camp Committees. • 1944 Conditions in Camp deteriorate • Feb 1945 20
- 21. Other interesting Dates •1970 Book published “Scotland’s Greatest Athlete” • 1982”Chariots of Fire” • 1991 9th June Memorial Stone dedicated at the former Internment Camp at Weihsien. • 2002 Inducted into Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. • 2008 Voted the most popular athlete Scotland ever produced. 21
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