Malcolm Nokes
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Cuthbert Nokes MC MA BSc (20 May 1897 – 22 November 1986) was a British schoolteacher, soldier, research scientist and Olympic athlete. As an athlete he mainly competed in the hammer throw
and discus throw
.
He was born in Edmonton, London
and died in Alton, Hampshire
.
He competed for Great Britain at the 1924 Summer Olympics
held in Paris, France where he won the bronze medal in the men's hammer throw event. Four years later he finished eleventh in the 1928 Olympic hammer throw competition
.
He won the gold medal for England in the 1930 British Empire Games
in the hammer throw contest and finished fifth in the discus throw event. At the 1934
British Empire Games he won again the gold medal in the hammer throw competition.
Malcolm Nokes was a member of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) and was chairman of its Coaching Committee, and also a member of the Achilles Club
.
Cine footage exists of him demonstrating how to throw a hammer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcOcv_-cL4k
He was a graduate of Oxford University where he studied chemistry and wrote a thesis on metaphenetidine. MC Nokes served in the Great War in the Royal Artillery
in the trenches and then as an observer in the Royal Flying Corps
. He was awarded a Military Cross
for his service in the Great War, becoming MC Nokes MC. In the Second World War he served as an officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
while a schoolmaster.
He taught chemistry at Malvern College
and later at Harrow School
, where he was appointed Head of Science. His practical demonstrations of the reaction of sodium with water were popular and famous among his pupils. These often entailed an explosion as MC Nokes put more than the recommended quantity of sodium into the water, and as the smoke cleared and noise subsided, MC Nokes would say "Note the small report." Later he worked at Harwell
and then in the CENTO
laboratory in Iran
. His nicknames included "Glaxo" and "Stally."
His publications include:
He married Elizabeth, and is survived by two sons.
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
and discus throw
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
.
He was born in Edmonton, London
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
and died in Alton, Hampshire
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
.
He competed for Great Britain at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
held in Paris, France where he won the bronze medal in the men's hammer throw event. Four years later he finished eleventh in the 1928 Olympic hammer throw competition
Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's hammer throw
The men's hammer throw event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1928 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Monday, July 30, 1928.Sixteen hammer throwers from eleven nations competed.-Medalists:-Records:...
.
He won the gold medal for England in the 1930 British Empire Games
1930 British Empire Games
The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario in Canada from August 16–23, 1930....
in the hammer throw contest and finished fifth in the discus throw event. At the 1934
1934 British Empire Games
The 1934 British Empire Games were the second of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games. They were held at the White City Stadium in London, England from 4–11 August 1934, apart from the cycling at Fallowfield Stadium, Manchester, and the swimming, which took place at the Empire Pool in Wembley...
British Empire Games he won again the gold medal in the hammer throw competition.
Malcolm Nokes was a member of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) and was chairman of its Coaching Committee, and also a member of the Achilles Club
Achilles Club
The Achilles Club is a track and field club formed in 1920 by and for past and present representatives of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Members have won 19 Olympic Gold Medals , and held 38 World Records...
.
Cine footage exists of him demonstrating how to throw a hammer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcOcv_-cL4k
He was a graduate of Oxford University where he studied chemistry and wrote a thesis on metaphenetidine. MC Nokes served in the Great War in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in the trenches and then as an observer in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. He was awarded a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his service in the Great War, becoming MC Nokes MC. In the Second World War he served as an officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
while a schoolmaster.
He taught chemistry at Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
and later at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, where he was appointed Head of Science. His practical demonstrations of the reaction of sodium with water were popular and famous among his pupils. These often entailed an explosion as MC Nokes put more than the recommended quantity of sodium into the water, and as the smoke cleared and noise subsided, MC Nokes would say "Note the small report." Later he worked at Harwell
Harwell
Harwell may refer to:*Harwell, Nottinghamshire, England*Harwell, Oxfordshire, England, a village**RAF Harwell, a World War II RAF airfield, near Harwell village....
and then in the CENTO
Cento
Cento is a city and comune in the province of Ferrara, part of the region Emilia-Romagna . In Italian "cento" means 100.-History:The name Cento is a reference to the centuriation of the Po Valley...
laboratory in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. His nicknames included "Glaxo" and "Stally."
His publications include:
- Modern Glass-working and laboratory techniques'.' London, 1937: William Heinemann.
- Simple Experiements in the theory of flight. London, 1941: William Heinemann.
- 'Aircraft instruments' in Air training manual; a practical guide to aero-engines, aircraft construction, wireless and electricity, and air navigation for members of the A. T. C. and all interested in modern aeronautics. London, 1943: Odhams Press.
- Science in education. London, 1949: Macdonald.
- Demonstrations in modern physics. London, 1952: William Heinemann.
- 'Throwing the Hammer' (with Lt. Col. C. J. Reidy) in Athletics, by Members of the Achilles Club.http://www.archive.org/stream/athletics029897mbp/athletics029897mbp_djvu.txt (Ed.: Meyer, HM). London, 1955: JM Dent & Sons.
- Radioactivity measuring instruments: a guide to their construction and use. Melbourne, 1958: William Heinemann.
He married Elizabeth, and is survived by two sons.
External links
- sports-reference.com
- Malcolm Nokes, Track Stats, May 2009