The 119th AGM of Lancashire Walking Club will be held on Saturday 7th November 2026 at Lady Wilton Hall, Simister, following a 5km race that starts at 1pm.
There are two awards decided by a vote of the membership and announced at the meeting:
(1) the A. J. Taylor Award, which goes to the best performance by a Lancashire Walking Club member in the past twelve months. It can be objectively or subjectively ‘the best’.
(2) the Cliff Royle Silver Salver, which is awarded for the best long-distance performance by a Lancashire Walking Club member.
Please send your nominations for each of these awards (who you are proposing and why) to either Greg Smith (smithgwh@gmail.com) or Dave Evans (dave.evans08@hotmail.co.uk) by close of play, Wednesday 4th November.
The Club’s website has a comprehensive record of our race walking endeavours, see:
We look forward to hearing your nominations.
Best wishes, Greg (AGM Secretary)
JOHN PAYN [1933-2026]
It is with great sadness that we report that John Payn, Centurion 973, died on the morning of Wednesday,, October 28th. Aged 93, he was an outstanding Masters athlete as both a race walker and a runner. He was a gentle and inspiring presence at all our club events. In the next few weeks we hope to pay tribute to his endearing personality and his enduring sporting achievements.
Meanwhile his good friend, Steven Wilde, a fellow Chorleyian, has generously provided these immediate thoughts.
John Payn (1933-2026)
Sadly, John passed away yesterday(28th October) aged 93.
He had spent the last 3 years in a Care Home where he died peacefully after increasing frailty and proclivity to infection had taken their toll.
John hailed from South London, moving to the North West in the late 1960’s securing a promotion in the Electrical Engineering Industry.
A decent runner, initially he joined Horwich RMI Harriers, before switching to Chorley Athletic Club in the 1980’s.
Apparently whilst gliding around a supermarket one day, he was spotted by a race walker who appreciated his natural style and speed, and subsequently John embraced the suggestion that he might try that athletic pursuit.
As a race walker he excelled, including successful races overseas.
John became a Centurion at a comparatively advanced age, and when he was 80 years old, he walked 80 kilometers to raise money for Derian House Children’s Hospice.
Becoming Chairman of Chorley Athletic Club, John was pivotal in that club’s merger with Chorley Harriers to form the present day Chorley Athletic and Triathlon Club.
As a coach, he was well liked and respected whether as a fatherly figure to youngsters or as a supportive influence to adults
Unfortunately the Covid pandemic and his wife Flo’s dementia diagnosis brought about an end to John’s athletic opportunities, the social restrictions of the former, together with the caring commitments of the latter becoming the priority.
John is survived by his daughter Christine who has carried on the athletic trait.
A gentleman and a gentle man, John was modest and unassuming, and was a credit to Lancashire Walking Club.
REST IN PEACE
