Thomas Higgs was known as the “Sporting Mayor” of Mitcham in 1957.
1st May 1958 at Hall & Co. This clip is from Merton Memories photo, reference Mit_Work_Industry_2-12
From the Norwood News – Friday 28 June 1957, via the British Newspaper Archive
The Sporting Mayor
THE borough of Mitcham has been fortunate in recent years in having mayors who show a keen interest in local sporting activities. The present one, Coun. Tom Higgs is no exception.
He is an official of Mitcham Boxing Club, an A.B.A. judge, a keen cricketer and a soccer fan. He is a vice-president of local amateurs Tooting and Mitcham.
Now I am pleased to see that the sports-conscious Mayor and I have something in common. We both believe that something must be done to liven up amateur soccer.
At United’s club dinner on Saturday the Mayor said he was concerned about the fall of gates and growing lack of interest in the game (although, of course, this doesn’t apply to United at the moment—but it could in the future). He suggested that more importance should be attached to league games.
” Dare I suggest a promotion/ relegation system ? ” he asked.
This, of course, is not new. But surely the time has come for the amateur bodies that be to give it their EARNEST consideration
Among his sporting interests:
boxing – he was secretary of the London Amateur Boxing Association in 1960;
cricket – he wrote the history of the Mitcham Cricket Club in the booklet ‘300 Years of Mitcham Cricket’ (a reprinted paperback book is available on Amazon.co.uk);
soccer – he was vice-president of Tooting & Mitcham.
Photos on Merton Memories:
Home Guard Memorial Service in 1957
Planting a bush at Glebelands Old Peoples Home in 1957
At a Chamber of Commerce Dinner
At another Chamber of Commerce dinner
Crowning Mitcham’s May Queen, Elizabeth Holbrow in 1958
Mitcham History Notes 