TOM SMITH
In 1947 Tom Smith, owing to ill health, asked to be
relieved of the office of Hon. Secretary, a post he had held for the
past 50 years. He was the only remaining founder member and during that
year a testimonial fund was set up and a presentation made to him at
a social evening and dance held at the Ambulance Hall on Thursday 25th
September 1947. Tom died, aged 73, on 24th February 1948 and at a Special
General Meeting, held to elect a new Treasurer, tributes were paid to
him and members stood in silence as a mark of respect. Tom had been
employed for 45 years at Bingley Post Office and for 23 years was the
secretary of the Bingley Branch of the Postman's Federation. For 35
years he had been caretaker at the Baptist Church. He had been the secretary
of the Bradford & District Cross Country Association since 1912
and its President since 1939. He had also been the President of the
Yorkshire Cross Country Association from 1942 to 1944. An obituary printed
in The Bingley Guardian read:
"(He was an) old fashioned conscientious
type of secretary who had only one object in his association with
the sport, to give it all the service he could. And right well he
did it. His services were recognised in September last year, when
his friend, Mr HM Dawson, handed him the club's gold medal and a cheque
to mark his long service to the sport. He never sought fame for himself,
but he knew that he had earned the commendation of his peers in the
field of athletics and the medal, which he held for the last few months
of his life, was his proudest possession. It was the only recognition
he asked".
BOB SMITH
Robert W Smith was amongst several new members who
were recruited in 1919 and, became an important figure in the history
of Bingley Harriers. He was born on 5th December 1902, worked at Parkinsons
in Shipley and lived in Charles Street, Bingley. He was appointed Assistant
Club Secretary in 1946 and was made Secretary a year later. He remained
Club Secretary for 26 years before being forced to retire in 1972 because
of poor health. He was Club Captain for a number of years and was elected
a Life Vice-President in 1948. He was President of the Bradford &
District Cross Country Association for 16 years and a past President
of both the Yorkshire and Northern Cross Country Associations. He was
elected a Life Member of the English Cross Country Union in September
1973.
Bob was a good runner who enjoyed a certain amount of success at local
level. He won the sealed handicap in the Club Championship in his first
season and was the Club Champion in 1921, 1923, 1933, 1934 and 1935,
the 1933 race being run in a snowstorm. Despite being 'scratch' man
for many years Bob still managed to win the Christmas Handicap in 1920,
1931 and 1932. His first local success came in the popular Wibsey Park
Whickham Shield Open Handicap Road Race over a distance of 7 miles 560
yards in 1921 which he won in 46min 38sec from a start of 4 minutes.
In local cross country championships Bob was 9th in the Bradford &
District in 1926 and 20th in 1930. His best position in the Yorkshire
Championship was 29th in 1923.
It was Bob's organisational ability that was largely responsible for
making the Bingley Club what it is today. Together with Bill White and
Edgar Jowett he organised track meetings which had previously never
been held by the Club. He started Open Handicap events in 1947 which
were traditionally held at Beckfoot on the 2nd Saturday in January for
many years. This race later moved venue to Myrtle Park and finally to
Roberts Park in Shipley. This ability to organise events successfully
was recognised in 1954 when the Club promoted the Yorkshire Championships
at Milnerfield Farm. No other local club had previously hosted such
events and it was due mainly to Bob Smith's guidance that Bingley Harriers
were looked upon as competent organisers. Bob went on to help the Club
promote the Northern Championships in 1958 and 1962, the Inter-Counties
in 1961 and the Yorkshire Championships again in 1960, 1968 and 1971.
It was said at the time that he had probably organised more northern
athletic and cross country events than any other secretary.
Bob died in 1974 and the 'Bob Smith Memorial Races' were started in
December that year. Fittingly these were the open handicap type of events
he had started 25 years earlier. Later the handicap races were replaced
in favour of a New Year's Day Road Race. The first, over 6 miles, was
held in 1985 from Baildon Recreation Centre and, in 1988, the venue
was changed to the Bradford & Bingley Sports Club in Wagon Lane,
Bingley and the distance altered, first to 10K and then to 5 miles.
Nowadays the 'Bob Smith Race' is a club handicap event held in St Ives
Estate at Harden.
Bob Smith was dedicated to the sport and his attitude
towards it was demonstrated when he said
"You cannot all be champions but you can
enjoy athletics and derive great pleasure in competing and meeting
people - and remember to do your best for the Club".
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