Alan Rudkin

Alan Rudkin No history of boxing at The Florrie – or indeed, Merseyside or England – would be complete without the name of Alan Rudkin appearing very high up the list. In many people’s opinions, Alan Rudkin should now be recognised as a former British World Champion. In all, Alan had three world title challenges […]

1957: The Fiesta Club Launches

In 1957 The Florrie launched a social room/night called The Fiesta Club and for the first time girls were allowed to attend.

1894: SmallPox Outbreak at The Florrie

An outbreak of smallpox in the building led to the closure of the Institute for two months whilst it was thoroughly disinfected, cleaned and re-painted.

Joseph Cunningham

Joseph Cunningham 1st Superintendent of the Florence institute Trust 1889-1894 Joseph Cunningham was a Liverpool born flour dealer and baker. In 1889 he became the first superintendent of the Florence Institute for Boys after working at another boys institute in North Liverpool, The Gordon Working Lads Institute. Cunningham and his wife Elizabeth later went on […]

1945

1945 There is no Annual Report for this year. The Florence Institute News January 1945 The newsletter was now called the ‘Florrie News Sheet’ , and began by describing Florrie house matches at which rivalry was most intense in the sport of basketball. It also recorded that inter-club football matches were to take place against […]

1937

1937 There is no Annual Report for this year. The Florencian 1937 By 1937, the ‘Florencian’ was born, and had new ideas about breathing life into the old newsletter format. Rather than being penned by instructors or committee members, The Florencian appealed to the members themselves, ‘The ‘Florencian’ will only become a big thing so […]

1984

1984 After three years of steady progress the Institute reported a difficult year, in the main due to the delay in appointing a new Youth Leader. The Institute had also been disappointed that they had not been able to make progress in developing a special initiative with the Education Authority to bring together the education […]

1981

1980 The frustration of financial despair echoed loudly through the Chairman’s Report this year, which stated ‘The Management Committee have been very concerned during the year to find it necessary to operate on shoestring finances. The young people in Toxteth deserve every chance yet there seems to be very little the policies of Liverpool City […]

1980

1980 Throughout its history, The Florrie’s activities programme developed in accordance with trends and demand. By the 1980s, the traditional menu of sport, football, netball, badminton, basketball and boxing was supplemented with classes in photography, textiles, Ju-Jitsu, weight lifting and needle crafts, among others. Also on offer were internal exchange programmes, employment activities, pensioner meetings, […]