AEJC Hickstead A.E.J.C.
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A.E.J.C. Hickstead-like many queries there are initials which makes guesswork a lot of fun!-is this one some thing to do with Horses ? Show jumping at Hickstead-can you help? SOLUTION 'AEJC'stands for the 'All England Jumping Course' at Hickstead (Horse show jumping). AEJC was founded in 1960 by Frank Bunn who was desperate to give English & British Riders facilities to match those of other countries because the national team was at a huge disadvantage in internatiuonal competition. An annual international show jumping competition was also established. Enamelled 'corded medallion type' (sorry I don't know the technical terms here!) member pass badges were made by W O Lewis for each annual show, each year of a different coloured enamel with the words 'All England Jumping Course' and carrying the year of the annual competition and individual pass number on the face and also stamped on the back together with the legend 'not transferable' They are similar to racegoers badges and I have several AEJC badges including what appears to be a proof with no year or pass number. The elaborate imagery at the centre was similar to that of the button badge on your website (though much simpified on the button badge). The course quickly became more familiarly known simply as 'Hicksted and, in more recent times, the modern oval pass badges simply‚ carry the word 'Hickstead' with the year and a small logo. I don't know when the change in badge design took place because I have gaps in my collection. The button badge was almost certainly one that spectators (non-members) could buy on the day at one of the annual shows. I suspect that it is early to middle 1980s but cannot be sure and it might be later. Mike Short, Franks responds I believe the AEJC button badge to be 1970s-so a little earlier
