John Percy "Jack" Blake (13 November 1874 – 19 December 1950) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

local politician and sportsman. He competed for the United Kingdom at

fencing Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, ...

at the

1908 Events January * January 1 – The British ''Nimrod'' Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton sets sail from New Zealand on the ''Nimrod'' for Antarctica. * January 3 – A total solar eclipse is visible in the Pacific Ocean, and is the 4 ...

, 1912 and 1920 Summer Olympics. He was also a keen player of

water polo Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...

and an amateur

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: * Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing *Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

. In 1911, he won the

épée The ( or , ), sometimes spelled epee in English, is the largest and heaviest of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. The modern derives from the 19th-century , a weapon which itself derives from the French small sword. This contain ...

title at the

British Fencing Championships The British Fencing Championships are held annually to determine the British champion. The Championships are currently held at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. The championships were not held during World War I, World War II and in 20 ...

. During the First World War Blake was in charge of the priority section of the High Explosives Section of the

Ministry of Munitions The Minister of Munitions was a British government position created during the First World War to oversee and co-ordinate the production and distribution of munitions for the war effort. The position was created in response to the Shell Crisis o ...

. In

1919 Events January * January 1 ** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (now Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia. ** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off the ...

he was elected to the

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to: Active parties * Progressive Party, Brazil * Progressive Party (Chile) * Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus * Dominica Progressive Party * Progressive Party (Iceland) * Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...

councillor representing Islington. He was re-elected for a second three-year term in 1922, and joined the Labour Party in 1924. From 1925 to 1931 he was a councillor representing Camberwell, Peckham. He lost his seat at the 1931 county council elections, but returned to the LCC as an

alderman An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members t ...

in 1934, holding his seat until 1946. He was Chairman of the London County Council for 1942–43. He was a member of the LCC Entertainments and

Fire Brigade A fire department (American English) or fire brigade (Commonwealth English), also known as a fire authority, fire district, fire and rescue, or fire service in some areas, is an organization that provides fire prevention and fire suppression se ...

Committees, and of the Port of London Authority.

Olympic events

* 1908 Summer Olympics in London ** Fencing – Épée, individual * 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm ** Fencing – Épée, individual ** Fencing – Épée, team – Silver medal * 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp ** Fencing – Épée, individual ** Fencing – Épée, team

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, John 1874 births 1950 deaths British male fencers Olympic fencers for Great Britain Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain Olympic medalists in fencing Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1908 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1912 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1920 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Richmond, London Fencers from London Members of London County Council