Page 31 - Summer2016Gazette

Obituary 31
Alan Brent
18/11/1918 to 1/6/2017

regularly for Kent in the Inter He was President of the South
When Sydney Wooderson was Counties and did very well of Thames Cross Country Asso-
alive it was very fair to say on the Road in events like the ciation in 1966. Also President
that he was the ‘Greatest living News of the World London of the Southern Counties Cross
‘Heathen’. When Sydney died at to Brighton which became the Country Association, Kent
the end of 2006 that title quite National 12 stage. He had been County Athletics in 1979, and
rightfully passed to Alan Brent. known to win Club events by the English Cross Country
5 minutes and famously in the Union or ECCU (now ECCA)
Club ‘B’ team with Braughton in 1989. He was presented with
Alan joined Blackheath Harriers and Scotting “gleefully de- the Queens Jubilee Medal in
on 4th March 1946 at the age of feated” the ‘A’ team Club road 1977 and was recognized by
27. He has died at age 98 after specialists in the 1952 Mitcham Bromley Sports Council with an
71 years of extremely distin- 15. He later made his mark with award in 1989 recognising his
guished service to his Club and other “geriatrics” in the Sunday service to Sport in the Borough.
to Athletics. His wife, Brenda, Times Fun Runs. ‘Fun’ seeming More recently he won a presti-
had died at age 96 less than 4 a misnomer as the Club History gious London Sports award for
months previously. Her support records that these events were his outstanding contribution to
of Alan and her service to the fiercely competitive. Athletics over so many years.
Club had also been legendary. The Club History records that He reckoned he had been to 50
Alan joined as an Athlete what was “more impressive consecutive Nationals and it
shortly after the War so it than his consistent running was ironic that the first two he
is probably best to start by was his continued industry missed were in 1994 and 1995
giving a brief summary of his for the Club”. He created “an when the Club won the team
career as a runner. He ran in impression of integrity, under- title. He also missed seeing the
the Blackheath team in 20 standing and dedication not under 17s win the team title in
consecutive Southern Cross readily matched”. He was Club Havant in 1997.
Country Championships and President in 1966/7 leading He attended every day of
in 20 consecutive National an administration including
Cross Country Championships Tony Hayday, Geoff Last, Bob Athletics at the 1948 London
Olympics and could point out
(1946/7 to 1965/6, so 47 years Taylor, Alan Ball, Brian Stone,
of age on his last appearances). Bob Richardson, Norman Page, on photos exactly where he and
Brenda sat. He was asked once
He was in the scoring 6 on 18 Jim Day and Peter Baigent.
times in the National and 16 Alan was for 5 years the Club’s to point out Jack Braughton
in the 1948 Olympic Men’s
times in the Southern. Just 3 Cross Country Captain. For
team medals though, bronze in 11 years he did penance for his Athletics team photo. “Jack
the 1948 National (the race be- win in the 1946 Closing 5 by wasn’t in the photo”, he said,
ing won by Sydney Wooderson) being George Brooks’ Assistant “he couldn’t get time off from
work”. He served with Jack on
and silver and bronze in the Handicapper.
1948 and 1950 Southerns. His the Board for Norman Park
Track Management until they
best National saw him finish
in 32nd place and he managed were both in their 90s and Alan
was a regular at Club Track
15th in the Southern. His first
Club win was in the 1946 ‘Clos- events where he took responsi-
ing 5’ where a far too generous bility for all the field equipment.
allowance of 5 minutes was Meanwhile, wife Brenda worked
in the Track café with Anne
given to him. Newcomer having
it over on the handicapper! Cilia’s Mum, Vi Stenning, and
Ken Johnson’s wife Hilary
It has ever been thus! He ran
serving tea and wonderful cake