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46 Obituary
Continued

But there would be club, and he was described He remained fit, keeping up
disappointments too: he did as having the kind of action his training by racing between
not run in the Inter-Counties normally associated with lamp posts or jogging around
for his then county, Surrey Finnish track runners. He his local park, although rather
and was never picked for also became well known for amusingly a neighbour seeing
them. The team manager his distinctive trademark him out one day remarked “he
George Pallett doubted bobble hats. doesn’t seem to be getting any
his fitness despite the He remained a senior figure faster”! If he wasn’t going out
overwhelming evidence in in the club and continued sprinting or jogging he could
his current form. There running actively until he was keep fit by going ballroom
were offers for him to step 80 when, as he said, he ‘ran dancing four times a week.
up his training program and out of opponents’, competing In 1980 he was made a vice
particularly an offer from the in vets championships and president and became active in
AAA to go to New Zealand was an ever present in the the management of the club
for six months but he had to London marathon during its being a director of BHHQ
refuse it “I could not afford to first years. He could still be a Management and Norman
take six months off. You had winner in his age group for Park track management.
to be able to afford it”. instance in March 1991 when His has been a long life
His best years came in the he was first V70 in the 5km where he seems to have
early 1950s when he was at the BVAF National Vets been prepared to face its end
rated as the most outstanding championships at Ampthill with equanimity. “If I die
distance track runner for the when he was aged 70. tomorrow” he said at 90, “I
have had a good time. That’s
what life is all about. Not to
have won but taken part”.
He survived his wife Marjorie
and perhaps a fitting final
word are those which were
read out at his memorial
service in December last year.

Our love is anchored in my heart
which means we’ll never be apart
In time the sun will shine once more
and all the pain that’s gone before
will surely then subside and leave
a warming glow inside.

Club Post-Olympic dinner 2012. Jack, the standard bearer of a long gone age passing
the torch to a new generation.