Monday, March 05, 2007

COHSE Athletics



Frank Close

Former mill worker, later from 1935 as Charge nurse at Banstead Hospital (COHSE member)
At 21 he was the National Cross Country Champion 1935
In the twenties, Frank Cole Led Reading Athletics Club from comparative obscurity to its position as one of the strongest teams in the land
At the height of his success he was contracted diabetes, which
seriously affected his future despite this represented Britain in 5,000m at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
buried Banstead Village, Churchyard 1970 (aged 56)
wife and two daughters



Jim Alder

Born in Glasgow in 1940, COHSE member at St Mary's hospital, Stannington, Morpeth, Northumberland in the maintenance Department (joined COHSE March 1965)

World Record holder for 30k which he ran in 1 hour 34 minutes and 1.8 seconds (at Walton,Surrey)

Runs 15 miles every day (including to work) and 25 miles on Sundays

Marathon Gold medal winner at 1966 and bronze medal at 1970 Commonwealth games. (For Scotland)




Thomas Richards


Former Welsh miner, COHSE member employed at Tooting Bec mental hospital.
Won silver medal in the Marathon at 1948 Olympics.
Time 2 hours thirty five minutes, seven minutes