Dave Bradley R.I.P.

Sadly  former member Dave Bradley passed away  recently in New Zealand shortly after a stroke.

After breaking his leg playing football, Dave joined Cambridge in the late seventies and though describing himself (and once even entering a race as) 'A donkey', Dave was an accomplished marathoner who improved through hard but diligent training which he did for many years.

He ran 2:33 in the 1985 London Marathon as a M40 and won South of England and Kent county team medals for Cambridge Harriers and he represented Kent County at 20 miles.

The phrase Dave was to speed what Margaret Thatcher was to Powerboat racing was maybe a little unfair but Dave hardly ever ventured into track racing and he thought anything under 5km should be for babies but he often outlasted seemingly much faster younger runners when it came to 26.2 miles as I found out myself on many an occasion!

A much respected teacher and tour guide he eventually moved down to Brighton and initially ran then walked on the South Downs.

He travelled to New Zealand every winter and it was his wish to be buried there.

Dave will probably be even better remembered as a great character with a seemingly endless catalogue of jokes and quips though perhaps not endless if you happened to travel with him to races hundreds of times like I did but with newer passengers.

Ross Carter, John McGlashan and myself visited Dave up on the South Downs last summer shortly after his 80th birthday and there was nothing wrong with his memory as he effortlessly reeled off the same jokes and recollections he had done back in the 70s.

He (and his 70s moustache) will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who ran, trained and raced with him.

Dave himself said he once walked into a pub while Iran were playing in the World Cup and someone greeted him saying Dave I have just seen you playing left back, right back and centre forward for Iran!

There will no UK funeral but there well may be a gathering to remember him in the Brighton area arranged by friends at Brighton and Hove AC and if anyone is interested please contact me stevesmythe2006@yahoo.com