in the past few weeks race walking has lost three outstanding characters from within and without its ranks.

The first of these, Jack Englert of the Sheffield Unuted Harriers is perhaps the least known. However, he was a stalwart of the Sheffield club when it ruled the roost at a northern and national level in the post-war period. Jack competed across the 1960s and 70s. representing as well South Yorkshire in the national police championships. This grainy but evocative photo shows Jeck alongside the legendary Lol Allen, both resplendent in Sheffielld’s famous red and white hoops.

Jack Englert’s daughter, Helen Elleker continued the tradition and was the AAA Women’s 10 kilometres champion in 1984, 1985 and 1986. She represented England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. Across succeeding decades she has had a significant presence in our sport both as a competitor, coach and organiser.

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Secondly, another stalwart, in this case of Essex race walking, Alec Banyard passed away last month. Back in the 60s and 70s the diversity of championships and open events, together with the importance of team success, meant that athletes met up regularly across the length of the country. Thus friendships were made. There was a strong bond between Lancashire and Essex athletes caught in Ron Wallwork’s comment at the end of this piece.

We are grateful to Dave Ainsworth for the permission to reproduce his tribute to Alec, which appeared in the Essex Walker magazine.

ALEC BANYARD (1942-2023) RIP 

We’re all sad to learn that, after a long illness, former International race walker and Southend-on-Sea AC member Alec Banyard, 81, left us on Monday 21 August while a patient in Scarborough Hospital. He’d been a long-time resident of Hockley, before moving north to settle in Filey some years’ ago. His name is always mentioned when those great heyday times of a talented Southend-on-Sea AC (as then called) Walking Section are recalled.

Alec was already doing well in the ’50s, as he was 4th in our 1959 AAA Junior 1 Mile Championship at Watford, clocking 7:36.8. Ahead were fellow Southender Peter Marlow, Dennis Read (Steyning/brother of 1956 Olympic gold medallist Norman) and Ron Wallwork (Bolton United Harriers) who’d clocked 7:05.4, 7:09.9 and 7:13.4 respectively. In 1960 this event moved to Hurlingham where Alec was again 4th with 7:32.1 on the stopwatch. Ahead of him that day were Ron Wallwork, Peter Marlow and Maurice Fullagher (Surrey AC) who recorded 6:59.1, 7:03.2 and 7:28.3 respectively. A position behind Alec was London Vidarian Dave Delaney in 7:44.0.

CORRECTION – Thanks to the eagle eye of Olive, Bob Dobson’s wife, we can reveal that No 36 is in fact a youthful Bob and not Ray Pearce. Bob finished fourth in the race itself and went on to become a truly outstanding athlete with a remarkable record of success in the 50 kilometres event.

Alec was more interested in longer-distance races, at which he excelled with enthusiasm. However, he was a capable performer over all distances. Extracts from a 1974 Statistics Annual records his bests, at that stage, as 3,000m/13:32.2, 10K/48:23.0, 20K/1:36.31 and 50K/4:27.21.

The latter was 4th in our 1974 National 50K on roads (10 x 5K) around Hendon’s Copthall Stadium (now StoneX Stadium). The top 3 were Bob Dobson, Jake Warhurst and Roy Thorpe, who respectively recorded 4:16.58, 4:18.58 and 4:24.08. Surprisingly, despite 2 in the top 4, Southend failed to register in team competition as Messrs Dobson and Banyard were their only starters. 86 finished with a high number of retirements – 36, as filing past a changing room 9 times meant 9 easy opportunities to quit! Another interesting result from that time was at a York 20K won by Roy Thorpe in 97.13 with Ron Wallwork 2nd in 97.26 and Alec 3rd in 98.24. Alec rarely had an off-day – such consistency brought him to the attention of our International Selection Committee, who rewarded him with International status.

Among such races were Lugano Trophy appearances – this was a big deal in Alec’s days; for those chosen to walk and many supporters who travelled far and wide to be part of these occasions. Alec proudly wore an Essex County AA representative vest but sadly never won an individual Essex County gold medal – only as Essex had many high-standard race walkers eligible for local races – for instance, Bob Dobson won 5 successive Essex County 50K titles in the early ’70s (1971-75). Alec served our Race Walking Association as its most efficient Honorary Treasurer from 1974-to-1979, as you’d expect from a well-qualified accountant.

Alec wasn’t often seen after Southend’s Walking Squad “exploded” in the mid-70s due to a “behind the scenes row”. This was covered in “Essex Walker” when the late John Hedgethorne was Hon Ed and in the local “Evening Echo” by athletics reporter Dick Marshall RIP. Walkers went to other Clubs leaving few at Southend – with Alec remaining loyal. Over decades Alec has turned up to support important occasions, such as dining at Southend-on-Sea AC’s Centenary Dinner, giving support at a couple of his Club’s annual Southend 1 Mile on August Bank Holiday Mondays and being there to give encouragement on both days of Southend’s 2014 memorable 100 Miles Walk at Garon Park Track. In the London Olympic year, he supported an “Athletes Reunited” luncheon at “The Mudlark” near London Bridge Station, at which a tribute presentation was made to his great friend Colin Young RIP. To his widow Dawn and all family members we express our profound condolences on the sad passing of a true “good-un”.

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Ron Wallwork comments: I got on well with Alec and stayed over with him a couple of times at his parents’ house in Great Wakering – sounds quaint and so it was. His GB international appearance was the 1975 Lugano Cup final at 50km where he clocked 4.30.25. He also raced for the British Race Walkers Club in the Dunkirk 50km and Milan 30km in 1973. He was of course Hon Treasurer of the BRWC. Just how popular and respected he was is reflected at his wedding which was a who’s who of the leading walkers of his generation. He was good company and I was of the opinion that he didn’t fulfil his potential. May he rest in peace.

Alec William James BANYARD (b. 27 Feb 1942 Rochford, Essex) died on August 21 at Scarborough,. A stalwart member of Southend-on-Sea AC, he was ranked in the UK top 10 for 50k walk each year 1971-6. He had one UK international – 19th in the World Cup/Lugano Trophy 1975. His best in RWA Champs was 4th at 20M in 1975 and at 50k in 1975. Walks pbs: 3000m 13:32.2 (1973), 2M 14:42.0 (1966), 10000m 47:07.0 (1975), 7M 55:00.0 (1966), 20k 1:36:31 (1973), 1:33:33 short (1968), 50k 4:27:21 (1974). Hon. Treasurer Race Walking Association 1974-9.

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Finally, ironically and sadly the above statistics were supplied by Peter Matthews, Editor – Athletics International & International Athletics Annual, one of our sport’s greatest friends. I knew his voice long before I met him in person, courtesy of the many times he was the knowledgeable announcer at athletic meetings across the country. No more than a few weeks ago he was checking with me some details about my profile and that of Mick Holmes

Again Dave Ainsworth takes up the story.

So sad to report the death of Peter Matthews – who was our guest speaker at the Race Walking Association’s Centenary Dinner at the Royal Air Force Club in October 2007, when his after-dinner speech was wonderful, witty and relevant. He also appeared as a guest speaker at New Scotland Yard for the annual Metropolitan Police Walking Club’s Dinner and Reunion.

A known heart sufferer Peter died peacefully in his sleep, aged 78. On the week before his sad death, he sent Essex Walker his statistical record on the late International Alec Banyard RIP. Peter was a long-serving President at his much loved Enfield & Haringey AC, and had attended Enfield League races from time to time. He resided in Ware, Hertfordshire.

Peter was a respected athletics historian and National Union of Track Statisticians (NUTS) member and well known as an athletics commentator on ITV television and also as a track/stadium announcer – which included being a guest commentator at Ilford AC for an official opening of Cricklefields Stadium’s first all-weather track, with a meeting which saw many stars competing. Peter was a long-serving NUTS Chairman and had only recently jointly edited (with Tony Miller & Stuart Mazdon) their always appreciated 65th Annual. Peter attended “Essex Athletics Reunited” luncheons with regularity..

For decades he published ranking lists for race walking’s recognised distances – with accompanying comments drawing our attention to the direction in which our event was going. A sad loss and, without doubt, he was one of race walking’s greatest-ever supporters.

Peter Matthews R.I.P.

There is an excellent, fuller obituary on England Athletics