William Titt

Born William Stephen Le Beau in Cork on 8 February 1881, he was the son of a Jamaican seafarer. His father died when he was four and his mother, Sarah, remarried a year later. William took up his stepfather’s name and became known at William Titt. When his stepfather died in 1938, he reverted back to Le Beau.

A talented all-round sportsman, he was a highly religious man who became a prominent part of the St Saviours Church sporting teams in Splott. He was in the gymnastics team that reached the final of the Welsh Team Championships in 1904 and 1905, when they beat Newport Athletic Club. He was also in the team that lost to Powell’s Tillery in 1906.

He was selected for the 45-man strong British gymnastics squad for the 1908 Olympic Games in London. He was one of six Welsh gymnasts, three from St Saviour’s, in the squad who finished eighth overall. There were also three more Welsh gymnasts in the individual competition.

Four years later he retained his place in the British squad in Stockholm as one of 23 gymnasts. This time the GB team climbed to third to claim the bronze medal in the team event. By this time Titt was 31.

Titt, a devout catholic who went to church four times every Sunday, helped to raise funds for the building of the Cardiff Royal Infirmary and worked as a coal merchant. He was also a fine athlete and boxer.

He was the Welsh AAA 120 yards hurdles champion in 1910, 1911 and 1913, second in 1914 and third in 1909, 1920 and 1921. He won the silver medal in the long jump in 1909 and won bronze in the high jump and long jump in 1911.

He died in Cardiff on 5 May 1956 at the age of 75.