A Liverpool Exemplar - Irene Mabel Marsh

Irene Mabel Marsh, or 'Mums', was born at 13 Grey Road, Walton, Liverpool, on the 3rd of December 1875. She was the second daughter, and the third in the family of ten children, of Peter Walter Marsh, and his wife, Anne Caroline. By 1901 Irene was living with her parents at 1 Courtenay Road, Waterloo, which had a large garden with a trapeze and parallel bars and backed onto the beach. Irene and her siblings all developed a lifelong interest in sport and the outdoors. As a teenager Irene was a keen swimmer at Bootle baths and became involved with teaching younger children to swim. When a gym opened nearby, Irene and 2 of her sisters were amongst the first members. When Irene turned 18 years old she enrolled in Southport Training College and Gymnasium and there she trained for two years, her studies including athletics, gymnastics, swimming, riding and teaching practice. Mr Alexander, who ran the college was also in charge of the YMCA gym in Myrtle Street, Liverpool and he later appointed Irene as Director of the Women's classes at the YMCA with a salary of £50 a year. Classes were held for children during the day and, recognising the importance of health and fitness, a class was held one evening a week for working women. As the classes grew in popularity Irene knew she needed larger premises and more instructors so with her savings she rented property at 110 Bedford Street, Aigburth  where she proposed to start a training school with dormitories. Not for the first time 23 year old Irene faced opposition from some family members, yet with strong resolve and the support of her mother, the Liverpool Gymnasium Training College was soon opened. In 1911 Irene, 3 teachers, a matron, 32 students and 6 domestic servants all resided at 171 Bedford Street South, on the corner with Huskisson Street.

110 Bedford Street

 

Visiting lecturers and doctors provided specialist teaching and links were built with staff in Stockholm, as Irene highly rated Scandinavian methods. Students came from a cross section of society and Irene would often waive the fees for enthusiastic students from poorer backgrounds. She worked with renowned orthopaedic surgeon Sir Robert Jones on a clinic and a medical gymnasium was staffed by senior students. Irene Marsh became part of a ground-breaking group of women pioneers in physical education, sport, dance and women's rights and became an expert in physiology, kinesiology (the scientific study of human movement), pathology and educational methods. She travelled widely and gained considerable knowledge from German and Swedish models of physical education, which were more advanced and holistic in approach than their British equivalents. Irene became a fiercely committed educationalist who was determined to follow her own vision leading the way in the development of physical education training and teaching in Britain for much of the twentieth century. 

Scenes from a 1924 album of Liverpool Physical Training College

She retained her role with the Bootle Gymnasium until 1937 alongside establishing her own College, where she also served as Principal from 1900. While Principal there, she also founded the Girl Guides Corps at the College in 1917 and became District Commissioner, receiving visits from Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement. 
In 1919, the mansion Bark Hill, in Mossley Hill, was purchased by her as a physical training college for women. The 'Liverpool Physical Training College', as a Physical Education Teacher Training college for Girls, became part of Liverpool University, then Liverpool Polytechnic before being known as LJMU's IM Marsh Campus. The college had expanded to the site in Aigburth, but the link with local hospitals continued and her students began to study physiotherapy as Irene pioneered rehabilitation years before some of the medical profession could see the benefits of active treatments. Together with the Liverpool Mechanics Institute, the Liverpool Institute and School of Art and the Liverpool Nautical College, these organisations together laid the foundations for Liverpool John Moores University, an institution that has grown and flourished and continues to provide opportunities for all.

Irene remained the principal until her sudden death in 1938, just days after directing a gymnastics and dancing display at the YMCA. The college was renamed after her in 1947 before becoming part of Liverpool Polytechnic in 1981, and the JMU in 1992. Irene Mabel Marsh made a tremendous contribution to the education of young women in Liverpool. She was an inspiration to many; her drive, determination and hard work saw her achieve her goals and ambitions.

see also:- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2021/06/a-liverpool-exemplar-john-foster-jnr.html