Friday 24th July 1908 and crowds of Edwardian Devonians welcome home their Olympic sporting hero Fred Holman when he arrived by train at Queen Street (Central) Railway Station.
Dawlish man Fred had victoriously won the 200 metres Breast Stroke Contest in London. Hundreds were ready to carry Fred shoulder high to the Guildhall where he was welcomed by the Mayor.
The story of this real Devon hero was sadly to be a short one. Respected greatly by all in the county, sadly Fred Holman died five years later in 1913.
(above, left: Swimming hero, Fred Holman and right: Fred’s close friend and trainer Percy Matthews). 
(above: The Western Times, July 24th 1908, reporting the homecoming of an Edwardian hero).
A special feature looking at the life, career and lasting legacy of Fred Holman as told through newspapers of the time will be published here soon.
