THE Fattorini family are well known for their long-established jewellery business in Bradford, but they also left a significant sporting legacy on both a national and international level.

The family arrived from Italy in the 1830s and started a business as jewellers in Harrogate. Antonio, with two brothers, opened the Bradford shop in 1850.

Remember When reader Geoff Dowling, who has researched the family's sporting heritage, takes up the story: "The Fattorinis showed interested in the local sporting scene and Antonio's grandson, Tony Junior, became involved with Manningham Rugby Union Football Club.

"Tony, a watchmaker, jeweller, inventor, trophy and medal designer was a chess enthusiast (he invented the chess clock timer) and fisherman. He was an Olympic Games timekeeper at the London Olympics in 1908, representing Manningham Rugby Union Club when they became part of the breakaway from rugby union in 1895. Although Tony was regarded as the soundest administrator in the Northern Rugby League he was at the forefront of operations when the club decided to switch codes again in 1903 and joined the Football Association. Bradford City AFC was born.

"Tony was the benefactor of numerous amateur sporting clubs but one of his main interests was race walking, which at that time was one of the most popular sports in the country. Early in 1903 he had an idea to promote a long distance walk and, along with a number of prominent fellow businessmen, organised a 40-mile walking race from Bradford to York. The Bradford & County Walking Association was formed with the sole purpose of promoting race walking and organising events, thus the Bradford Walk was born and held annually for 111 years.

"Race walking mania affected Yorkshire in the early days of the 20th century with Bradford at the centre of the action. It vied with cricket and rugby as one the most popular sports in the north with unbelievable newspaper coverage. On Saturday, July 11, 1903, five weeks after the initial Bradford Walk, which was won by Baildon’s Len Atkinson, the sports section of the Bradford Telegraph carried a quarter page report of the previous week's Manchester to Blackpool Walk with a mention of Atkinson competing. In Bradford a Lister Park Garden Party Walk was won by Atkinson, Bingley Cricket Club promoted a 20-mile race to Uttley and back which attracted 48 entries, the Wyke Junction pub had a nine-mile race, and there was a Dewsbury to Brighouse walk. There was also a Bradford City Walk in 1903 for factories and firms in the city, which Thornton's Harrison Hanson came second in, which attracted 98 entries and teams from the police and Bradford Technical College. The race was organised by Tony Fattorini and the Bradford & County Walking Association, with gold and silver Alderman medals provided by Fattorini’s.

"It seemed as if the whole city was on the march. Tony was president and chairman of the Bradford and County Walking Association for many years. In 1923, after two Keighley fishermen drowned in Morecambe Bay, he organised the Bradford to Morecambe Walk which, at 63 miles, was the longest road walk in the country. The proceeds of collections taken on route went to the victims' dependents.

"At a meeting held in the Alexandra Hotel, Great Horton Road, on Whit Sunday, May 24, 1931, Tony moved a resolution that a northern section be formed and this was carried unanimously. Mr A Crossley-Smith was elected as the first treasurer.

"After almost 30 years of race walking administration, Tony died in September, 1931 aged 79.

"Unfortunately the Bradford Walk is no more, but Yorkshire Walking Club and the Northern Area Race Walk Association are still going strong."