Page 29 - Summer2016Gazette

Obituary 29
Hanna Cordell
1946–2017

Hanna was the club secretary “Often they would provide a
It is with much regret that I for Blackheath and Bromley dry and welcome shelter on
have to report that the very Harriers AC for many years and match days. For one event at
popular Hanna Cordell has has also been a team manager Parliament Hill Hannah and
passed away recently after for the many BBHAC track and David got to the course early,
battling illness, having given her field teams, a regular time- erected the tent, provided a
life for and so much to the sport keeper and a track judge, and few chairs ,collected the race
of athletics. brought her strong organisa- chips and numbers to hand out
tional skills with her every time and later on dismantled the
to the events she would attend. tent and got it back to the club
Prior to that Hanna had held a house where it was cleaned and
series of management positions repacked ready for the next
with Bromley Ladies. With meeting. On another occasion
husband Dave to who she was On Parliament Hill the day
married to for 49 years, Hanna started early for Hanna and
met many new friends from the Dave and after surveying the
world of travelling officials who site found the perfect lofty spot
went on to become good friends to position the club tent, afford-
from many different clubs. ing spectacular views over the
Hanna (nee Grundlehner) was London skyline and relatively
born in Arbon in Switzerland dry under foot.
in April 1946 and met Dave “At the Kent Championships
when she was a student staying Hanna and Dave arrived at
in London with Dave’s parents, Hythe at 8am in the morning,
never returning home in the set up the tent in heavy rain
The late Hanna Cordell. 1970s. Although not a serious (not an easy task), Dave spent
athlete herself, Hanna did run the day officiating the races and
events like the 7 Sisters, and Hanna spent the day handing
10km and half marathons, but out 10 sets of team numbers
her true love was officiating in and pins and generally taking
the many capacities whether it charge in the tent. Once all
be track and field, cross country the races were complete they
or road events. Always up early then dismantle the now sodden
on competition day, Hanna and muddy tent, fold away
would accompany Dave to and transport back to the club
wherever they were going to be house, where they get it all out
ready to pitch the club tent in a once again and hang it up to
favourable location to provide dry. They have a very full, long
much needed shelter and a base day and we genuinely could not
for the club athletes who would do without the Cordells.
turn up later in the day as the
following tributes have testified
to…