A journalist and author is calling for a Winter Olympic hero from Huddersfield to get the recognition he deserves.

Ashley Ball is looking into the incredible life of Jimmy Chappell ahead of the release of a book called ‘Champagne On Ice.’

Jimmy was born in Batley but raised on Manchester Road, Milnsbridge. In 1925, aged 11, he left the UK for Ontario alongside his dad Ernest, mum Marion (nee Jowett) and sister Bessie.

Whilst in the hockey-mad country he learned how to skate and play the national sport.

In just a decade Jimmy developed quickly enough to warrant a move back to the UK to play for Earl’s Court Rangers.

And by the January of 1936 he was destined for Nazi Germany where he would be part of Team GB’s ice hockey team.

GB, led by coach Percy Nicklin, pulled off the upset of all upsets as they got by Canada, 2-1, in their third match.

With results standing from the opening stages it meant GB would just have to stay unbeaten to claim an unlikely gold medal.

They did that with Jimmy netting in wins against Hungary, in front of the watching Adolf Hitler, and Czechoslovakia.

A 0-0 draw with USA, which featured an astounding three periods of overtime, ensured all the team would be heading home with Britian’s first and only gold medal in ice hockey.

Ashley said: “Jimmy and his teammates’ achievements were astonishing.

“To learn how to skate and play hockey to Olympic standard in just 10 years is amazing enough but to then go and beat the Canadians at their own game never looked possible.

“Jimmy would later feature at two more World Championships where GB would win the European title twice for finishing the highest placed Euro team and, after serving in the Second World War, he would go to another Winter Olympics with Team GB in 1948 where they finished a credible fifth.”

Jimmy still had links back to Huddersfield with newspaper reports showing an uncle, Edgar Scholfield, attending his wedding and his grandparents going to watch him play in London.

Ashley feels it is about time that Jimmy was recognised more in his hometown.

“Some of Jimmy’s teammates have blue plaques recognising their achievements and in some of those cases they actually spent less time there than Jimmy did.

“There are a few irons in the fire for a tribute but any help would be greatly appreciated, and I think, completely deserved.

“I am not sure many people know that Huddersfield can claim they have a Winter Olympic gold medallist. It would be great to be able to shout about it.

“He clearly took a bit of Yorkshire with him to Canada as he went on to represent Canada at cricket and that love was passed on to his son, Christopher, who played for the nation at the 1979 World Cup.”

Both of Jimmy’s surviving children have been interviewed for the forthcoming book which also includes the story of Jimmy’s Barnsley-born teammate, Archie Stinchcombe, who somehow made a career in the sport despite being blind in one eye.

Jimmy would also don the stripes as a hockey referee and officiated at the 1950 World Championships.

He would later move back to Canada and ran a successful business. He died on holiday in Florida aged 59 in 1973.

If you are related to Jimmy or have any more details about his time in Huddersfield, please get in touch with Ashley by emailing: ashley.ball@barnsley-chronicle.co.uk

A dedicated Facebook page about the duo can be followed by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/Champagne-On-Ice

Image courtesy of: David S Gordon