Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

A Group of Participant’s Medals for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, presented to Commander F.W. Collins, R.N.:
Olympic Games, London, 1948, a light bronze participant’s medal by B. Mackennal and J.R. Pinches, Houses of Parliament in cartouche, rev. two victorious athletes in quadriga, 51mm (BHM 4422; E 2076; MJP p.118); Olympic Games, Melbourne, 1956, a bronze participant’s medal by A. Mészáros for K.G. Luke, 64mm (Wachtel 7); British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Cardiff, 1958, a bronze participant’s medal by J. Pinches, 54mm (BHM 4472); British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Jamaica, 1966, a bronze participant’s medal, unsigned, 54mm; British Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh, 1970, a bronze participant’s medal by T.H. Paget, 54mm (E 2121); British Commonwealth Games, Christchurch, 1974, a bronze participant’s medal, unsigned, 63mm; British Commonwealth Games, Edmonton, 1978, a bronze participant’s medal, unsigned, 44mm; together with a privately produced book giving the history of the Torch relays at the Olympics and the Queen’s Message relays for the Empire and Commonwealth Games [one of a limited edition of 3]. Most of the medals as struck, mounted in a wooden glazed frame, the display completed with a Festival of Britain Crown, 1951; an interesting and unique group £600-800

First only illustrated. Commander F.W. ‘Bill’ Collins, RN (1905-89) was involved in athletics and the organisation of sport both in the Navy and nationally. In particular he coached javelin and was one of a number of coaches who taught at the AAA Summer Schools at Loughborough College in the 1930s. In 1947-8 he was responsible for organising the Torch Relay from Olympia in Greece across Europe to London for the 1948 Olympic Games. Cdr Collins also originated and organised the Queen's Message Relay for the Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958 and for subsequent Commonwealth Games. In 1962 he founded the Torch Trophy Trust to encourage voluntary work for sport at club or local level. Much further material relating to Cdr Collins’ career is now housed at Loughborough University