Obituaries

Ron Eaton, 'Ron the Runner' A great servant of Athletics has been lost to us. Those who in the past have worked on Administration at the London Marathon, will remember Ron as the kindly and friendly man who managed the Registration process. Sadly he died recently and his funeral was at the City of London Crematorium on 20 September. He was 86 and was survived by a son and a daughter and two grandchildren. He was shortly to become a Great Grandfather. He was himself a prodigious runner who completed many marathons including London and New York. He also race-walked, was a Centurion and had completed the London to Brighton. He was greatly affected by the loss of his wife Joyce 7 years ago and it was appropriate to hear the BBC's London Marathon theme being played at the service which ended with the pop song 'Keep on Running'. He greatly enjoyed running and considered himself a serious runner. Thus the award by Running Magazine of the title 'Fun Runner of the Year' didn't go down at all well... 26-09-11 LAURENCE DORDOY The funeral took place on Tuesday 9th June 2009 at The Forest Park Crematorium, Forest Road, Hainault. Essex. IG6 3HP. Laurence was involved in a fatal accident in Wood Lane, Dagenham at the junction of Gosfield Road opposite the Dagenham Civic Centre. 4-06-09

Chas Walker (on right) was a former VAC President (1999) and an active distance runner up until 1998, and quite a character.   The Belgrave site citation says Charlie Walker 1929-2008 It is with deep regret that we must announce that the President of Belgrave Harriers, Charlie Walker, died yesterday afternoon, Wednesday 13th February. Charlie’s career was a prodigious one to say the least. He ran with success at the top level of competition when this country’s middle and long distance runners were household names and second to none! In any other period he would no doubt have gained himself full international honours. Gordon Pirie, Frank Sando, Alec Olney, John Parlett, Chris Chataway… these are just some of the stars of the ’50s & ’60s with whom Charlie tangled with over track, road and cross country. He trained with them, raced against them, was beaten by them and on occasions beat them in return. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course 14-02-08

Jim Day died suddenly on Sunday morning (1 July 2007). Jim would have been 74 in August and the following year would have achieved 50 years membership of Blackheath & Bromley HAC. 4-07-07

Jim McQuillin died around the 26 December 2006 after a short illness. An Epsom & Ewell Harrier, distance runner and official; he was also a former Membership Secretary of VAC. The funeral was private. It is understood that there was a plan to scatter his ashes on Banstead Downs on Sunday 14 January 2007. 6-01-07