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Lord Burghley engaged to Lady Mary Montagu-Douglas-Scott
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Lord Burghley engaged to Lady Mary Montagu-Douglas-Scott
David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter (1905 - 1981), Lord Burghley, athlete, sports official and Conservative party politician pictured at the time of his engagement to Lady Mary Montagu-Douglas-Scott (1904-1984). Burghley won a gold medal in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. As an athlete, Burghley was a very keen practitioner who placed matchboxes on hurdles and practised knocking over the matchboxes with his lead foot without touching the hurdle. In 1927, his final year at Magdalene College, Cambridge, he amazed colleagues by sprinting around the Great Court at Trinity College in the time it took the college clock to toll 12 o clock, inspiring the scene in the film Chariots of Fire (whose character Lord Andrew Lindsay is based upon Burghley) in which Harold Abrahams accomplishes the same feat. Lord Burghley did not allow his name to be used in the film because of the inaccurate historical depiction in the movie. There was never a race upon which Harold Abrahams beat Lord Burghley in this feat as the movie depicts. Burghley is also said to have set another unusual record by racing around the upper promenade deck of the Queen Mary in 57 seconds, dressed in everyday clothes. Burghley later served as president of the Amateur Athletic Association for 40 years, president of the International Amateur Athletic Federation for 30 years and as a member of the International Olympic Committee for 48 years. He was also chairman of the Organising Committee of the 1948 Summer Olympics. Date: 1928
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Amsterdam Aristocrat Aristocratic Aristocrats Athlete Athletes Burghley Cecil Conservative Engaged Engagement Exeter Hurdles Marquess Medal Medallist Medallists Metre Montagu Official Olympic Olympics Runner Runners Scott Sportsman Sportsmen Sprinter Sprinters 1928 Douglas Games
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this photograph, Lord Burghley, later known as David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter (1905-1981), is seen engaged to Lady Mary Montagu-Douglas-Scott (1904-1984) in 1928. Burghley's athletic prowess is evident in this image, as he was a gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. An avid athlete, Burghley's training methods were unconventional, as he would place matchboxes on hurdles and practice knocking them over with his lead foot without touching the actual hurdle. In his final year at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Burghley astounded his colleagues by sprinting around the Great Court at Trinity College in the time it took the college clock to toll 12 o'clock. This feat inspired the scene in the iconic film "Chariots of Fire," in which the character Lord Andrew Lindsay accomplishes the same feat. However, Burghley did not allow his name to be used in the film due to the inaccurate historical depiction, as there was never a race in which Harold Abrahams beat Lord Burghley in this feat. Burghley's athletic achievements extended beyond his Olympic victory. He is also said to have set another unusual record by racing around the upper promenade deck of the Queen Mary in 57 seconds, dressed in everyday clothes. Burghley's contributions to sports did not end with his athletic career. He served as president of the Amateur Athletic Association for 40 years, president of the International Amateur Athletic Federation for 30 years, and as a member of the International Olympic Committee for 48 years. He also chaired the Organising Committee of the 1948 Summer Olympics. This photograph captures a moment in time, showcasing Lord Burghley's athletic accomplishments and the beginning of his life with Lady Mary Montagu-Douglas-Scott.
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