LEICESTER
WALKER
Welcome to the fourth edition of THE LEICESTER WALKER. In line with my previous decision to produce a newsletter only when we had something to say, it is now time to go to print once again. The only problem I have is that there are only a very few contributors. It would be nice if a few more readers were to send in contributions. It does not matter whether or not you are a current member of The Leicester Walking Club or a past member or just a friend of the club. In fact it appears that I have received more feedback from those that are not current members than those that are. Remember you can write on any aspect whether it be years gone by and your memories of the Club, what you are doing now and if you are still involved, what you think is wrong with Race Walking generally these days and how we can attract more members.
It is my intention to include one or two new items starting with this issue such as 'Where are they now?' and a look back to what was happening 25 and 50 years ago.
I would hope that if there is any response to the 'Where are they now'section we will be able to increase the circulation from what it was last time [69] to approach the 100 mark or more.
CORRESPONDANCE.
First of all I would like to acknowledge a letter that I received from Irene Stevens and Betty Kirkland [daughters of one of our founder members W.G.[Billy] Williams].
They thanked me for sending a copy of THE LEICESTER WALKER and apologised for not writing sooner as unfortunately they have both been in hospital. [Ed.I am sure everyone joins with me hoping that they are now both feeling better]. They hope that the Club will be able to carry on after all these years as they remember watching many races years ago.
I received an E.Mail from Cliff Rushton, acknowledging receipt of the last newsletter also stating that he has been forced to change his E.Mail address.
Letter received from Martin Oliver [Editor of ENFIELD WALKER]. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy can contact Martin at 74, Southfield Road, Waltham Cross, Herts. EN8 7HE.
Dear Peter.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Leicester Walker' No.3 and congratulations on a worthy addition to the 'Walker Family' of Newsletters. As I got my copy thanks to Ken Livermore who downloaded it via all this new-fangled e-mail stuff, I accordingly enclose a donation to your 'Operating Costs' and a few stamps, as I would like to receive a regular copy. Its definitely worth it.[Ed.Thanks very much Martin].
As some of your members will recall, I lived in the Midlands for a while during the 1970's and worked for the 'Coventry Evening Telegraph', so I'm always a bit suspicious when local newspapers start severing their sponsorship of local Sporting Events. Their sponsorship, which is invariably the 'Life-blood' to local clubs, is 'peanuts' to the sponsor, so when they start 'penny-pinching', you can guarantee that they are in 'Deep Dooha' financially and the next you will hear, they have either been taken over or 'Shut Down' completely. Why don't you try an approach to Walkers Crisps. They're up in your neck of the woods, aren't they? Their rivals 'Golden Wonder' at Market Harborough responded generously to requests from me, many years ago for small amounts of sponsorship. 'The Walkers Walk' has a certain 'ring' to it don't you think?
My first outing to Leicester was for your Schools Open races in 1970, where I was 3rd. in the Senior 5 Miles, behind Dave Ward [Lancs.WC] and John Dallow [Bromsgrove & R] as I recall. My school [Cheshunt Grammar] insisted on re-presenting the cup to me at Assembly on the Monday morning. It's still sitting on the shelf beside me as I write:-I wasn't letting the school keep it.
At the Enfield League 5 on Saturday, several people mentioned 'The Leicester Walker' and how good it is. Indeed, Dave Ainsworth was explaining to a quite sizeable audience that 'Leicester Walker' is similar in style to 'Enfield' and Essex Walker's [though less controversial] and well worth getting hold of a copy. Unfortunately, he ruined his 'Sales Pitch' by remarking 'Well its better than 'Race Walking Record'. This was greeted by guffaws of laughter all round and choruses of 'Thats not saying very much,is it?'
So, well done Peter:- more power to your elbow:- Its just a pity that with 'Record' being so dreadful these days, our little local newsletters have become essential replacements for the Official Publication, rather than 'Complimentary too' as they were originally intended.
Kind regards and Best Wishes,
Martin Oliver.
I received the following E.Mail from Sandra Brown on Feb.6th.2004.
Dear Peter.
Our friends at Essex Walker kindly forwarded to us the recent Leicester newsletter, which was much enjoyed. Please pass on our warmest regards to Leicester Walking Club members at your forthcoming A.G.M. on 25th. February. Richard and I recall with great affection our walks in the club's events and the enjoyable social evenings with you. We only did a couple of the 7 mile races but the 100 mile event was a great favourite, on both the early 1980's course and the later Hungarton circuit. My qualifying 100 at Leicester in 1982, I shall never forget. Although I was pretty whacked at the end [and fell asleep on the Saturday evening train back to London - it's just as well St.Pancras was where I needed to get out] I can remember the walk in vivid detail. This was my first ever racewalk, and first ever athletic event, and I had no idea what to expect. Being given a number to wear was a new experience in itself. I was used to walking with a rucksack or bumbag, and was very reluctant to be parted from them. For about 70 miles [from around mile 30] I walked with the lovely Dutchman Jac van Steen. He had little English and I had no Dutch, but we got on fine, helped each other out, and finished together.
I had no helpers and the kind Dutch people gave me cups of tea and bananas. I also recall what fun it seemed when your boy scout helpers semaphore signalled ahead for water, orange or tea, according to request. At the finish I was so thrilled to meet Hew Neilson, Captain of Centurians and I cherish still his letter to me afterwards. I was given a bunch of flowers, which I took home and kept for as long as possible, then dried the petals, which I still have in an envelope.
In 1984 Richard and I [by then both Surrey W.C. Members] were both at Leicester for that years 100 with Surrey's George Halifax in support. That was when I was sixth in the GB best ladies time of 18.36.24. and Richard arrived just a few minutes later. My position shows the depth and quality of the field that year. Richard went on to win later events in some excellent times. I walked the 100 at Leicester 6 times altogether. You may recall that Leicester W.C. had a special medal for 5 completions of the race and I remember Richard and I being thrilled to collect our medals at a very enjoyable evening social event. Tom Sharlott and his wife very kindly invited us to stay with them, and it was lovely to get to know that delightful man and a great stalwart of the club.
Leicester WC's own walkers were always a force to be reckoned with, at every distance, as well as generous with their help in races. It would be good to see teams of those blue vests again in our 100's.
I am so pleased to know that the club is going strong and that initiatives for new races are under way.
Fond regards to all.
Sandra Brown C735.
I received another E.Mail from Sandra asking if I would mention Centurions kit and other items that she has for sale. She has polo shirts at £10, fleeces at £12, both plus £1 for postage. Cheques should be made payable to Centurions. She also has the usual ties, badges and handbooks. All of these items can be obtained from her at :-
Little Gables, Battle Lane, Chew Magna, Somerset. BS40 8PX.
Back in February while organising a Coaching session in Nuneaton, I was speaking to Janice Wright [wife of the R.W.A.Treasurer Bill] asking if she had any news of an old member Albert Tompkinson. Two days later she sent me this following E.Mail:-
Peter.
By an amazing coincidence, I met Mrs.Tompkinson this morning in our local post office.
Albert is 87, at home, but not well. He suffers from dementia, is housebound and maybe moving into a care home soon. [I wasn't sure whether this was for respite care or a permanent arrangement.]
I told Mrs.Tompkinson that you had been asking after Albert. She said she would tell him. He may remember Leicester Walking Club- or perhaps not. He still has his 100 miles medals, but gets upset when he looks at them because he can't walk now. Mrs.Tompkinson is 84 and looked well.
As a matter of fact Albert was the 10th.member of The Leicester Walking Club to become a Centurion. He did this in the first Leicester to Skegness race in 1958. His time was 22.03.57. His Centurion number is 280 and he completed a total of three 'hundreds'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now a little catching up from the last newsletter.
I did promise a brief obituary on Len Matthews, who died quite a few years ago. The main reason for doing this is due to the fact that he had some connection with Leicester and I have only recently come across this.
When Len was demobbed from the Australian Armed Forces in 1919 he went into his uncle's business in Leicester where he formed the Leicestershire Walking and Field Games Club. [Does anyone know anything about this Club as this is the first time that I have heard of it.] This was probably the start of walking in Leicester as we know it. In 1931 he went to live in Luton and helped promote the sport in the Midlands to become President of the Midland R.W.A. in 1934 and 1935.
Having retired from racing he re-joined Surrey W.C.in 1946 but he was still mainly responsible for organising the National 50 Kilos. at Shirley in 1953.
He resumed racing in 1958 at the age of 63. Having set his heart on becoming a Centurion he entered the Leicester to Skegness 100 mile in 1960 and achieved his ambition by finishing in 23.40.45. In doing so he became the oldest new Centurion [no.316] at the age of 66.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The second item that I promised to update you on in the last edition of THE LEICESTER WALKER was the joke between Paul Nihill and I about who won the 1961 Leicester Mercury Walk.
Paul and I both share a love of Boxing. A few years ago I was a member of the Leicester Ex Boxers Association and Paul is a member of 2 or 3 associations in the South. In fact I read more about Paul, each week, in Boxing News these days than I do in any Athletics publications. However, each year the Leicester Ex Boxers have a get together where other associations are invited to attend. Paul usually attends and invites me to join him. On many occasions in the past I have been unable to attend because I often have something else on. Two years ago I was able to go along but Paul had warned me about what usually happened. A Leicester member, who knew that Paul was a Walker, had often confronted him by saying that he remembered Paul winning the Mercury Walk in 1961. Despite disputing the fact Paul was always shouted down.
When I attended I was introduced to this gentleman who told me about Paul's performance in 1961 and cried down any suggestion that a local man had won the race. The record was put straight later on when Paul got to his feet and explained the true facts. This whole story was described two weeks later in Boxing News.
[Last year when I travelled to London to meet up with Paul and Colin Young, Paul greeted me wearing a 1961 Mercury Walk rosette that he had kept all those years, probably alongside his Olympic Silver Medal and European Gold.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R.I.P. -
J.T.W.(Jack) READ.
It is with deep sadness that I have to report the death of our last surviving Founder Member Jack Read at the age of 94 on April 26th.
Jack held a number of positions within the Club, particularly as Treasurer and was a very well respected Coach.
After helping to form the Club and it's constitution his main interest in those days was to get out on to the road and race. Although many of his better performances may have come before the war, the records are hard to come by. However, I can report that as early as 1929 he won a Club 5 Mile Handicap on Boxing Day in an actual time of 39.38. In 1931 he was 10th. in the Enfield Open 7 Miles in 56.26. beating this by finishing 9th. in 56.19 the following year.
In 1933 he finished 2nd. in the Midland Junior 10 miles in 82.51 and after finishing 17th. in the Mercury Walk in 3.11.23 he was 32nd. in the National 20 miles at Crystal Palace in 3.03.31.
With other excellent performances under his belt, where he was a counting member for the Club, he went on to become Railway Champion. In 1936 he represented the Railway in a match in France over 10,000 mtrs. where he was very proud of the fact that he beat a French competitor who that year had taken part in the Olympic Games.
Jack continued to represent the Club after the war over most distances up to 20 miles, but not for too long. It would appear that he did not race too much, if at all, after 1948 when he became more interested in administration and Coaching. Even so, the records show that in 1946 he won an invitation 7 miles in 56.24 and during that same year finished 8th. in a 7 mile event at Luton in 54.56, 14th.in the Highgate 7 miles in 57.56, a similar position in the Enfield 7 in 57.02 and 9th. in the Belgrave 7 in 57.30.
1947 saw Jack finishing 37th. in the National 10 miles at Sheffield in 92.09 and 34th. in the National 20 miles in 3.05.50 and in what appears to be his last Mercury 17th. in 3.21.53.
I know that there must be many more fine performances, not listed above but I have just tried to choose a small sample, from the records I have available, in order to show Jack's versatility as a great Walker and a fine example of what a good Club man can do for his Club.
I think that it would be appropriate if, sometime in the near future, the Leicester Walking Club could perpetuate Jacks name similar to other founder members.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are a number of youngsters who are members of the Club. One of them [Lauren Gimson] asked me after she had read the last edition of The Leicester Walker if she could write an article and I readily agreed. Here it is:
I have been a race-walker for about 4-5 years now and I am still enjoying it and working hard. I began in year 4 at Stokes Primary school and my first race was a 2 Kilos. at Saffron Lane Track where I think I could of tried harder because I was chatting all the way round, but I finished in 15.27.
When I was in year 5 at school I began to walk for Leicester Walking Club and I was coached by Chris Smith. I won the national that year and speeded up in 1 and 2 Kilos. clocking 5.47 and 12.23 respectively.
In year 7, I was chosen as runner up in the Leicester Mercury young sportswomen of the year awards. Halfway through last year I changed coach to Peter Markham. I carried on getting faster through the year.
Now I am in year 8 and I am still working hard to improve on my 3 Kilos. time of 15.59. I have now walked for the Midlands 3 times, England twice and hopefully one day I will walk for Great Britain.
LAUREN GIMSON.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In past editions of THE LEICESTER WALKER I have asked for contributions from readers and a number of articles have been received and published, but mainly from friends of the Club who are not actually members. Now while these remunicenses are more than welcome, it would be nice to receive some from Club members. One such member who has responded is George [Aub]Towers. Aub has sent me a number of articles and therefore I propose to serialise his letters and so here we go.
THE GEORGE TOWERS STORY[part 1]
First of all George gave a few ideas he has that he feels will improve THE LEICESTER WALKER. Some of these ideas have been incorporated and no doubt others will follow. George's telephone number which he is happy to have printed is 01502 566498. Anyone who wishes to contact him can do so and some have already done just that including Colin Young, Dave Ainsworth and Jack Rawlings. He goes on:-
I suppose the reason for not knowing about people other than their walking performances is my life in the R.A.F. continually moving. We had 15 married quarters in 22 years of married life in the R.A.F. My daughter had 10 schools and my son 9. It makes your living at the same address seem a stick in the mud, each to their own. I joined the R.A.F. to see the world and in 28 years never got beyond Suez.
I took part in my first walking race in September 1946 which was a 2 ½ mile handicap for under 16 year olds. This came about through my mother knowing Jack Read.[Ed.see above re Jack's Death.].
At the time she was working in a cafe near St.Margarets bus station. Talking about families as one does she mentioned that a trip that I was due to go on had been cancelled. Jack invited me to go down to the club headquarters in Haynes Road and take part in this race as he knew that I did a bit of running with Leicester Harriers.
There were 8 starters including myself who were all handicapped according to age and experience. The limit mark was 2 mins 50 secs. I was 15 ½ and the oldest in the race on 2 mins. The only other name that I can remember from that race was Ray Walker. Albert Staines was on a cycle acting as the pilot. The race started in Haynes Road going right from the club room and then left down Humberstone Road and left into East Park Road. Going under the railway bridge at the old Humberstone Railway station I saw a 6d. bit(2 ½ P.in todays currency). Problem, do I stop and pick it up or do I carry on. I chose the later. Half way round I had caught the three early starters and was in the lead. I just followed the pilot wondering all the time if anybody was catching me up.
At the finish my actual time was 22.40. Which also turned out to be the fastest time. Second fastest was 22.52. I received the medal for winning the handicap [which was donated by Jack Read] and also the medal for the fastest time. From then on I was hooked.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JIM SHARLOTT MEMORIAL 10 KILOS.
At THE ABBEY PARK -
On SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4th.
After the demise of the Leicester Mercury Walk, it has been decided to combine the old Mercury with Leicester Open 7 on the Abbey Park. The same programme of Events as in the past catering for the young and not so young. It is hoped that this Event will receive great support from Walkers far and near. We hope that the many friends who have supported our Events in the past will turn up again on September 4th. Remember that this is a 'B' Race. This means that the Judges only Judge for contact. It would be great if many of the Club's walkers of the past, who may not of raced for a few years, turn up and have a go. Perhaps we could have a generation Team Competition such as those that joined the Club in the 60's against those that joined in the 70's and those that joined in the 80's etc. Even if you feel your 'Walking' days are over why not just turn up and renew friendships with old team mates that you may not have seen for a number of years.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have mentioned briefly on previous occasions that I am spending a great deal of my free time, these days, in updating the Club's performances over the years. As a result of some records being handed down to me by Bill Moule, when I took over as Race Secretary in 1957 and then my own efforts I have a very comprehensive record of all Club performances from 1946 to 1981 and then 1998 to the present time. What I am working on these days is filling the gap between 1982 and 1997.
Most of my sources are either past copies of the Race Walking Record or going to the Leicester Records Office to turn up old copies of the Leicester Mercury. However, I do have a request.
Among all my copies of the Race Walking Record which start at November 1948 [when the R.W.A.took over responsibility for producing the Record] I have just three copies missing.They are no.526 June 1986, no.585 July 1991 and no.637 Nov.1995. It would be much appreciated if anyone could either lend or better still sell me any of these copies in order to complete my collection. I would also ask if anyone has any pre 1946 Results that contain any Leicester Walkers. Although I do have a considerable amount of these Results, I know for certain that I have a long way to go before my records, for this period, are anyway near complete.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Listing previous years Results does prompt me to ask the above question frequently. Edition no.3 of THE LEICESTER WALKER had a circulation of just 69. It would be nice, if at least, we could make our initial target 100. Bearing in mind one of the main objects is to keep, not only current members, but also past members informed of what is happening these days within the Club. Surely the best way of doing this is by increasing circulation. I therefore list below many names of past members, who at least walked in 1981, 23 years ago. I would be very pleased if anyone could give me the address [E.Mail or Postal] of anyone listed below:-
Roger Hunt, Barry Hodkinson, Maurice Jones, Trevor Hart, Stef Whitmore, Richard Whittington, Jim Stretton, Reg Colver, Ted Warner, Danny Astill, Terry Needham, Terry Crockett, Brian Bown, Phil Cheshire, Alan Page, Phil Odell, Tony Loveridge, Phil Parker, Chris Bent, Alan Paterson, Andrew Ethell, David Ethell, Liz Gaffer and Karen Wright. If any reader could let me have details of anyone listed above, I will acknowledge in future editions and include them on future mailing lists.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There we are. That's it for another edition. Let me know what you think, good or bad. Don't forget to send in your contributions for future editions.
Try to support the Jim Sharlott Memorial 10 Kilos.on September 4th.
I would also ask if there is anyone who still receives their copy of THE LEICESTER WALKER, by post and is now on line to let me know, as to send your copy via E.Mail certainly helps in distribution costs.